On Monday 29 May, the Clean Devon partnership, together with Ruda Holiday Park which is owned by Parkdean Resorts, and Plastic Free North Devon (PFND), came together for a day of action to raise awareness about the impact of beach littering on our coastlines and to encourage people to play their part in keeping our beaches clean.

The aim of the event was to prevent a repeat of the large-scale littering that took place last year on Croyde Beach in North Devon and to remind individuals of their responsibility to take only pictures and leave only footprints. This message applies to all coastlines across Devon.

The action day featured a staged litter pile; showing the types of litter commonly cleared by the Ruda team, advice and information, and a community litter pick, where enthusiastic and passionate beach users joined in to deep clean the beach removing a staggering 31.14KG of litter.

Principal Waste Manager from Devon County Council and Clean Devon Co-ordinator, Annette Dentith, says: “On behalf of Clean Devon, I would like to express my thanks to the exceptional volunteers who dedicated their time and effort to conduct the clean-up. Many bags were filled with various items, including bottles, cans, polystyrene from broken bodyboards, netting, wrappers, takeaway packaging and much more. It was also great to hear from enthusiastic locals and holiday makers who already play their part to protect the natural beauty of our environment, recognising the negative and harmful impacts of litter in the marine environment.

“The battle against beach litter is far from over but by raising awareness and demonstrating our commitment as a partnership, we hope to encourage more people to consider their impact when visiting the beach.”

Lead Member for Waste and Recycling at North Devon Council, Cllr David Knight, says: “By collectively taking action, we can all ensure that future generations can relish in the beauty and tranquillity of our coastlines. North Devon is known for its stunning coastal beauty and as a partnership, we aimed to encourage individuals to take responsibility for their rubbish and dispose of it responsibly. Education can help individuals understand and appreciate the impact they have on an environment, when they leave rubbish and unwanted items behind. Following on from the many conversations I had with members of the public who participated, I believe the day was a great success.

Clean Devon is calling upon everyone to embrace their role as ambassadors of the environment, spreading the message of preservation and respect for the cherished beaches we all enjoy.

Individuals are encouraged to keep their eyes peeled for media captured on the day which will be shared on partner social channels following the event.

Running alongside Clean Devon’s anti beach litter campaign, PFND is holding it’s ‘visitor campaign’ this summer, for its fifth consecutive year. The campaign offers free resources and support for local businesses to operate sustainably and encourages visitors to do the same. For more information and to get involved, please visit PFND’s website.

Clean Devon is focusing on beach litter as part of their next campaign after concerns about the amount of coastal litter the county experienced last year.

On Monday 29 May 2023, the Clean Devon partnership, together with Ruda Holiday Park which is owned by Parkdean Resorts, and Plastic Free North Devon (PFND), will come together for an action day to raise awareness about the impact of littering on our coastlines and to encourage people to do their part in keeping our beaches clean. The aim is to prevent a repeat of the large-scale littering that took place last year on a popular Devon beach. Just some of the items that were left included camping chairs, cheap bodyboards and alcohol bottles and cans.

Littering is an increasing burden on society, both financially and environmentally and the partnership aims to improve the issue through preventing, detecting and deterring this type of behaviour in the county.
The message to those visiting coastal areas in Devon is clear: take only pictures and leave only footprints. The partnership is urging beachgoers to dispose of their litter responsibly or by taking it home with them.

Principal Waste Manager from Devon County Council and Clean Devon Co-ordinator, Annette Dentith, says: “We want everyone to come to Devon’s beaches and enjoy themselves. But we also need everyone to respect and protect the beach environment for other visitors and marine life. 80% of marine litter comes from the land and approximately 85% of it is sadly plastic. This is a big problem because of plastic’s impact on marine life and human health via the food chain. Litter and other items left behind can easily be blown into the sea – please take everything you bring to the beach away at the end of the day, dispose of litter responsibly and leave only footprints.”

Beach manager at Ruda Holiday Park, Holly Robertson, says: “Last year, we experienced a large amount of litter on Croyde Bay. Keeping the beach safe, clean and welcoming for our visitors and the local community is our top priority. “My team carry out regular beach cleans alongside volunteers from the local community, to ensure it remains safe for swimmers, surfers and walkers, as well as the diverse flora and fauna which inhabit the beach and nearby dunes, however, we would like to start at the root cause of the problem and remind people that it’s their responsibility to dispose of their waste correctly.
“Keep Britain Tidy research shows that one in five people admit to leaving rubbish behind at the beach, so the best way to tackle the issue is through education. We fully support any initiative that shines a light on the issues caused by leaving litter at the beach, and we hope this new campaign can have a positive impact on behaviours in the future.”

A litter pick will also be taking place as part of the action day and individuals and groups are invited to join from 10am until 12 noon.

Individuals are encouraged to keep their eyes peeled for material captured on the day which will be shared on partner social channels following the event.

Running alongside Clean Devon’s campaign, PFND is holding their ‘visitor campaign’ for its fifth consecutive year. The campaign offers free resources and support for local businesses to operate sustainably and encourages visitors to do the same. For more information and to get involved, please visit Plastic Free North Devon.