Join the Tarka Trail & estuary clean up on World Clean Up Day

Plastic Free North Devon (PFND) is rallying local businesses, organisations, and community members to participate in a significant environmental effort on World Clean Up Day, September 20.

This collaborative event aims to tackle waste and enhance the cleanliness of the Tarka Trail and surrounding estuary areas.

World Clean Up Day, a global initiative seeking to engage 5 per cent of the world's population in environmental action, will see PFND focusing on the Tarka Trail, from Chivenor to Bideford, as well as the estuary areas. 

The clean-up will address both high-traffic zones and harder-to-reach locations, including culverts along the trail.

The event is made possible through the support of local businesses such as Coastal Recycling and Saltrock, and logistical backing from North Devon Council and Torridge District Council. 

Numerous businesses have stepped up to lead sections of the clean-up route, resulting in a variety of private and public activities.

Emily Delve, Commercial Director Coastal Recycling States: “Tackling the plastic pollution problem is a cause close to our hearts. At Coastal Recycling we see first-hand the amount of plastic that comes into our processing sites for recycling, sadly this is only around 45 per cent of the plastics produced, with a large proportion of the rest ending up in our oceans. Plastic Free North Devon’s mission to protect and improve our environment through their community led initiatives. This clean-up of the Tarka Trail takes action in and around the communities we work in –with this in mind, we knew we had to get involved and support the event.”

Kate Ross-Smith, Marketing Manager at Saltrock, also voiced support for the initiative. 

She said: “We believe in supporting community initiatives and our teams being involved where they can. Many of our customers come here on holiday and use the Tarka Trail around this stretch of estuary, so it’s important to support and sponsor this larger community clean-up and protect the wildlife and nature of the Tarka Trail environment.”

The clean-up will feature five public events along the route, inviting everyone to contribute to this essential cause:

• Chivenor to Heanton Court with Braunton Countryside Centre - 10am to 12noon

Start Location: Chivenor base Tarka Trail entry point

What3Words: ///intensely.ringers.mass

• Fremington Quay - Home Farm Marsh with Ranger Steve - 10am to 12:30pm

What3Words: ///something.crew.summaries

• Fremington Quay - NORTH (back towards Fremington) with PFND - 10am to 12noon

Parking: North End Fremington Quay

What3Words: ///fabric.dimes.worry

• Yelland to Sandhills Car Park with Christies Estate - 12noon to 2pm

What3Words: ///rosette.seriously.mushroom

• Sandhills - South end of Instow beach with Christies Estates - 12noon to 2pm

What3Words: ///isolated.absent.waxer

• Instow Yacht Club to Westleigh with Instow Yacht Club - 12noon to 2pm

What3Words: ///cure.commands.apartment

Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate clothing. 

All necessary equipment will be provided, but bringing personal gear is welcome.

For more information or to get involved, please contact PFND at info@plasticfreenorthdevon.org. 

Details of the full list of events are available on PFND’s website and Facebook event page.

Claire Moodie, PFND CEO says “This is the first time we have organised a mass clean up on World Clean Up Day and we felt the Tarka Trail & estuary was the perfect location as it is a central point that connects so many of our communities. It is also of major significant ecological importance to the region within the North Devon Unesco Biosphere.”