Beach Finds

I believe so in Britain. It is called beachcombing and artists make pieces of art from driftwood. I have a friend who got put in a Greek jail for picking up a souvenir piece of something from a sightseeing spot.

Wood and debris that’s washed up is fine. Bags of sand is illegal

Removing any natural material - including sand, stones and pebbles - from public beaches in the UK is illegal under the Coastal Protection Act 1949. It is up to local councils to enforce the law, and offenders can be fined up to £1,000.

If you remove large pieces of driftwood remember you may be destroying a natural habitat. They are best left on the beach for other people to also enjoy.

Planks of wood and other items lost at sea and washed up on the beach will generally belong to the ships' insurer, (rather than the landowner) and taking those is theft. But you'll probably get away with it.