A man from Michigan in the United States has prompted a lively online discussion after asking whether someone in Scotland could send him a cup of sand for an anniversary project.
The request was posted in a Scottish online forum, where the man apologised for not knowing where else to ask. He said the gesture was intended to be sentimental rather than practical.
The post quickly attracted a range of responses, from practical advice to legal warnings and tongue in cheek offers of help.
One user pointed out that removing sand, shells or stones from beaches is technically illegal under the Coast Protection Act 1949, though they added light heartedly that they would not be reporting anyone.
Others questioned whether the law is actively enforced in small cases. One commenter said the rules are rarely applied unless someone is removing large quantities of material for commercial or landscaping purposes, noting that minor, accidental removal is commonplace.
Several users suggested alternatives, with one pointing out that the request did not specify the sand had to come from a beach and recommending commercially sold play sand from a retailer such as Argos instead.
Another jokingly asked what the current tariffs on sand imported into the United States might be.
Despite the legal and logistical questions, a number of people based in Scotland offered to help.
One user, who said they lived in Edinburgh and regularly visited Portobello, offered to send a cup of sand, joking that it would be fine as long as it was not seized by US customs.
Another offered sand from Kenmore Beach on Loch Tay, describing it as being in the centre of the Scottish mainland and noting that it sparkles in the water.
A further commenter from Aberdeenshire also volunteered to help, saying they would include a pebble and a shell along with the sand.
The man later suggested that sand from Portobello or Cramond Beach in Edinburgh would be ideal, prompting further light hearted discussion.
The exchange was largely good natured, with many commenters noting how a simple and personal request had sparked a wider conversation about sentiment, place and the meaning people attach to ordinary landscapes.
It ended with a final tongue in cheek remark from one user, who joked that Scotland needed to keep all of its sand for making sand dogs.