Man faced with 'appalling scenes' after visit to popular beach

Daily Mirror

24-05-2025

Tim Healey, 64, has said he visits Red Rocks Nature Reserve in Liverpool most days - but when he arrived at the popular seaside spot he was greeted with shocking scenes
A man has described the "appalling scenes" he encountered after a trip to a local popular beach - including discarded GCSE exam papers and broken glass. Tim Healey, a regular visitor to Red Rocks Nature Reserve in Hoylake, was shocked to find the area littered with debris on his visit today, Saturday, May 24.
Red Rocks Marsh, a coastal reserve spanning 10 acres of sand dunes, reedbeds and marshland, is crucial for various bird species and is home to the rare natterjack toad. The reserve is part of the Red Rocks Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). But the 64-year-old resident was greeted by approximately 50 glass bottles strewn across the beach, many shattered, and even torn GCSE exam papers.
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He said: "I go down to Red Rocks on most days to walk the dogs and check out the wind conditions for wing foiling and today was no different. I, and others down there, were confronted with appalling scenes of litter and broken bottles of beer and vodka.
"If they were going for a world record for broken glass on a beach, they've smashed it - there is glass over a huge area and it will be impossible to pick it all up, although we'll try.", reports the Liverpool Echo.
Tim further discovered GCSE papers, lamentably without names, but deduced: "We also found GCSE papers, unfortunately without names on them, but it seems clear that after their exams these kids, who presumably are 16-years-old, decided to celebrate by throwing bottles at the rocks."
Tim highlighted the risk that shattered glass poses to dogs, fearing it could gash and harm their paws. He questioned: "Who is selling them this alcohol, the vodka, how are they getting hold of it? This is a fantastic environment by the sea, it's beautiful and we are really lucky to be able to enjoy it.
"Young people are supposed to be caring for their environment, but this lot weren't. I may be of a different generation but when I was a kid, I wouldn't even dream of dropping any litter never mind this orgy of smashed bottles."
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Radio 1 DJ Greg James, who was in town for Radio 1 Big Weekend at Sefton Park, paid a visit to Red Rocks on Friday and praised the beauty of the area.
Tim's friend Jon Caswell, a Hoylake local, believbes that such loutish behaviour from teenagers might ruin the spot for families planning a bank holiday outing there.
He remarked: "Yesterday Greg James from Radio 1, up here for the Big Weekend in Liverpool, was posting pictures on social media saying how beautiful this area is, because it is. And now this degenerate behaviour is likely to have spoiled any chance of enjoying Red Rocks over this bank holiday weekend.
"We regularly come here for walks and to soak in the vistas, and we take our grandson to have fun on the beach but now we'll need to give it a miss as will many others. Cleaning up glass from sand isn't exactly straightforward.
"I have no doubt many people and dogs will suffer cuts. It's hooliganism, it's shocking and those who did this obviously just don't care. I am appalled."
Tim, along with other locals, subsequently took action to clean up the litter-strewn area.