New toy library opens for Ilfracombe Holiday park visitors

Ilfracombe Holiday Park has become the sixth location to install a toy library for its guests.

The libraries are part of the Visitor Campaign run by Plastic Free North Devon and have been opened across the area as part of its ongoing efforts to keep local beaches and green spaces free from plastic litter.

The aim of the toy libraries is to provide a resource for families to be part of a ‘circular economy’ when it comes to beach toys. They can borrow beach toys for their holiday and then bring them back at the end of their stay.

This latest library is the sixth and will be used by the holiday park’s customers, but others in the area are open to all.

Anne-Marie Eveleigh, operations manager at the environmental charity, said: “It is fantastic to get Ilfracombe Holiday Park on board with the Visitor Campaign.

“They are looking at ways to reduce their impact on the environment and installing the Toy Library is a great first step as it is providing a tool to help reduce the impact of plastic pollution and ensure that these toys do not become single use items. We are looking forward to seeing what further actions they take in the future.”

A statement on behalf of the park added: “Ilfracombe Holiday Park is proud to announce its collaboration with Plastic Free North Devon, on an exciting project aimed at promoting sustainability and reducing plastic pollution.

“As part of Plastic Free North Devon's Visitor Campaign, we have taken the initiative to install a bespoke, hand-built shed, which will serve as a Toy Library for our valued guests and the wider Ilfracombe community.

“Rather than purchasing buckets, spades, and polystyrene bodyboards for their holidays, only to be discarded on beaches, sent to landfill, or forgotten in cupboards, families can now borrow these items from the Toy Library during their stay and return them at the end, ready for another family to enjoy.”

The toy libraries are just one way that Plastic Free North Devon’s Visitor Campaign seeks to harness the power of local businesses and community to educate and encourage visitors to protect and care for region’s natural spaces.

The campaign includes resources and ideas for businesses to use to inspire behavioural change, a newly released Sustainable Housekeeping Toolkit for cleaners, property managers and business owners, and a discount on the Protect our Playground sustainable wooden bellyboards for all Visitor Campaign sign ups. 

More details about these can be found at www.plasticfreenorthdevon.org/plastic-free-holidays.

Anyone wanting to create their own toy library shed can view the original design by PFND volunteer Andy Clee here: https://plasticfreenorthdevon.org/blog/protect-our-playground-toy-library-launches-in-croyde.

The charity would like to thank North Devon Council for the original expansion of the Toy Library fleet through the Welcome Back Fund and the Clee family for their hard work in designing and painting the artwork and installation.