Visitors

St Andrews is a beautiful town, and we want to keep it that way for everyone to enjoy – including our feathered friends! These clever birds have become infamous for swooping down to steal food, making noise, and leaving droppings on buildings, cars, and pedestrians. While they’re part of a seaside town’s natural landscape, their behaviour can lead to messy streets and an uncomfortable environment for both locals and visitors. We’re working hard to reduce their impact, and as a visitor, you can make a big difference by following a few simple steps to help keep St Andrews clean and preserve its beauty for everyone.

Dispose of Waste Properly

In St Andrews, we’re lucky to have the gull-proof Big Belly bins that are specifically designed to keep waste secure and prevent gulls from accessing it. To help keep the town clean, always make sure to place your rubbish inside these designated bins, and try to avoid leaving food scraps or packaging around. Even small items like takeaway wrappers or leftover food can attract gulls and create a mess, so it's important to dispose of waste properly and make use of the bins provided.

Be Mindful of Gulls

Feeding gulls may seem harmless, but it actually encourages them to stick around and become more reliant on humans for food. This leads to more gulls gathering in public spaces, creating a bigger mess and often becoming more aggressive in their search for food. It’s also important to keep an eye on your food while outside – gulls can swoop in quickly, and once they’ve learned that food is easily available, they’re more likely to hang around and cause disruption!

Keep the Streets Clean

Whether hiking the Fife coastal path or lounging on the beach, pack out everything you bring in. If you spot any litter or waste on the ground, please take a moment to pick it up and dispose of it in a bin. Even if it’s not your own rubbish, every little bit helps keep St Andrews clean and attractive. Gulls are quick to find any litter left behind, and if we all do our part in keeping the streets tidy, we can reduce the mess and prevent gulls from being drawn to the area.