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Teenager in bid to clear dog mess from beaches

Laurence Hartwell Wearing a high vis jacket, gloves and boots Elsa holds litter-picking tools and stands in front of a bucket on a trolley. She is accompanied by her father who is wearing similar protective gear.Laurence Hartwell
Elsa has been weighing the dog mess she collects, helped by her father Eric

A teenager is clearing dog mess from Cornwall's beauty spots in order to raise money for a volunteering trip to Cambodia.

Thirteen-year-old Elsa, from Redruth, has already collected more than 100kg of the discarded dog mess since she began her challenge in January with help from her father Eric.

She started her poop patrol at Hayle Towans Beach and is encouraging all dog owners to be more thoughtful.

People have been thanking her by donating to her campaign to raise the funds she needs to go on a trip to Cambodia where she will help build community facilities.

'Bad problem'

She said: "The biggest problem is it being directly in the middle of the public pathways and bridleways but then it's also trying to be hidden off to the edge of the paths.

"The problem with that is all of the younger children and dogs tend to go off the path."

She collected 34kg of dog waste within two-and-a-half hours the first time she went out collecting at Hayle Towans.

The next time she went back to the same spot "there was quite a difference in how sparse it was," she said.

Elsa has since turned her attention to Flat Lode, following a recommendation, and will then move on to tackling the dog mess left at Marazion.

She plans to work her way to Newlyn across the front.

"I want to reach more people so more people have an understanding of how bad the problem is," she said.

'Enjoyable walk'

The fundraising target for the trip to Cambodia with her school is £4,980, set by organisers Camps International.

Elsa is due to spend four weeks in the country next year helping to build community facilities in three places.

"We've got a lot of people just thanking me because they have to walk through that place and they want to have an enjoyable walk, run, cycle but they've had a problem where they haven't been able to do that," she said.

Elsa added that people who leave dog mess "need to step up a bit more and see how damaging it is to everyone who enjoys that walk".

"They need to reflect that what they're doing is having a negative impact on everyone and it's not something they can turn away from."

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