ENVIRONMENTAL charity Keep Scotland Beautiful marked Glasgow Fair Monday with the launch of a new trial campaign that aims to improve water quality at three of Scotland’s best-known beaches.

The My Beach, Your Beach initiative will focus on changing the behaviour of users on three fronts. It will raise awareness of the potential impact on water quality by dog fouling, encouraging gulls by feeding them, and leaving litter.

The campaign covers South Beach in Ayr, Portobello Beach and Edinburgh and Fisherrow Sands in Musselburgh.

All three have faced challenges in improving the quality of their bathing water, and research confirms a strong link between behaviour on the land and the cleanliness of the local seawater.

A campaign team was at Ayr yesterday to tell beach users of the importance of not letting dogs foul the sand, discouraging the feeding of gulls, and responsibly collecting and removing their rubbish from the beach at the end of their visit.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “This campaign is one of a number of measures to improve three of Scotland’s best loved beaches and bathing waters, which are enjoyed by thousands of people on a daily basis.

“Sadly, some of those users leave more than just footprints behind, with dog fouling and littering, which attracts gulls, impacting on water quality.

“Keeping our beaches and bathing waters clean is a priority for the Scottish Government, which is why we’re helping to fund Keep Scotland Beautiful’s campaign, and working are closely with stakeholders to provide long-term solutions to the problem.

“I know the people of Scotland will be keen to support the campaign, and I encourage them to do so by carrying out some simple actions to help us all continue to enjoy Scotland’s amazing beaches and bathing waters.”

Keep Scotland Beautiful community projects officer Nicola Turner added: “We can all play a part in cleaning up bathing waters. The launch of our My Beach, Your Beach campaign emphasises our shared responsibility.”