Swimmers leave their heart on the sand at North Devon beach facing wind farm cable plans

Swimmers gathered at Saunton Sands yesterday (Sunday) morning to take a stand to ‘protect what you love’ as the campaign against the White Cross cable plans continues.

Organised by Love Braunton and Save Our Sands (SOS) a group of hardy early risers gathered to create a living heart shape on the beach to highlight the importance of the beach for swimmers.

Above: The living heart at Saunton Sands to promote the message ‘protect what you love’ by campaign groups Love Braunton and Save Our Sands. Credit: SOS

The cables, which will serve the White Cross offshore floating windfarm, will come ashore at Saunton and then tunnel under a variety of protected areas before connecting to the National Grid at Yelland.

READMORE: Surfer demo highlights ‘cable chaos’ White Cross will bring to Saunton

While the scheme has now been granted planning permission by North Devon Council, Love Braunton continues to fundraise to mount a legal challenge, supported by SOS.

Above: The sea swimmers in attendance took the opportunity to take a dip afterwards. Credit: SOS

Sunday’s event follows other high profile demonstrations on the beach to raise awareness, with this one focused on swimmers and supported by Baggy Bluetits, the local branch of The Bluetit Chill Swimmers who are based at Saunton.

Group admin Tracie Hudson said: “We have socially prescribed swimmers who have been advised to join us from Caen Medical Centre and Live Well in Braunton.

“The water has played a huge part in so many peoples’ recovery from anxiety and depression, pain management and helps ease the symptoms of menopause.”

Previous gatherings saw a line of surfers showing the route of the cables plus the recreation of iconic Pink Floyd album cover A Momentary lapse of Reason, with beds on the beach.

On Sunday, people were asked to write what the beach meant to them in the sand and plenty of the swimmers took advantage of the weather window by going for a dip afterwards.

Paul Irwin, one of the UK’s leading cold water immersion coaches said he was ‘proud to support SOS in its campaign to oppose the cable route.

He added: “In their application where they assess impact on beach users, White Cross conclude that the level of impact is not significant - based on the fact they’d consider swimming and surfing to be seasonal and occasional.

“That’s inaccurate. They also state any impact is ‘reversible’ once the project concludes.

"But what they seem to ignore is what Tracie has highlighted - that every swim counts.”

Above and below: People were invited to write in the sand what Saunton beach means to them. Credit: SOS

Fundraising donations for the legal challenge can be made via www.saveoursands.co.uk or www.lovebraunton.org