The Green Coast Award

What is the Green Coast Award? 

The Green Coast Award is a symbol of environmental excellence and has been established to acknowledge, promote and protect the environment of rural beaches in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales. The award is for beaches which have excellent water quality, but which are also prized for their natural, unspoilt environment.  A "natural, unspoilt environment" means that the special character of such a beach may not be compatible with the level of infrastructure and intensive management generally associated with more urban, traditional seaside resort beaches.

The Green Coast Award is objective-led and encourages 'best practice' in the management of rural beaches. It also emphasises community involvement in coastal management. Green Coast Award beaches have excellent water quality and sound environmental management. The award also encourages community involvement through the setting up of Coastcare Groups.