This Is North Devon
07:00 - 28-August-2008
THE RUGGED coastline of Hartland was treated to a well deserved beach sweep to preserve its stunning raw natural beauty.
A team of volunteers diligently collected more than five industrial sand bags of mostly plastic rubbish — which had drifted in from the sea.
The Northern Devon coast and countryside service worked alongside Skern Lodge Activity Centre staff and volunteer flood staff from the Environment Agency's Exeter office. The EnvironmentAagency encourages all staff to participate in two days a year of environmental leave. Staff can be involved in a practical environmental project of their choice.
The drab day, overclouded with mist and drizzle did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the hardworking volunteers on Wednesday.
The well-trodden South West coastal path looks down from great heights onto Childspit beach, which was littered with washed up plastics, fishing gear and plenty of other rubbish.
The volunteers were all fully fitted with harnesses and hard-hats to climb down, rope assisted, the greasy incline onto the hardly accessible yet highly visible beach.
Hamish Cameron, climbing and ropes professional at Skern Lodge set up A-frames to relay the bags of debris up the steep climbs.
Tim Staddon, of Northern Devon coast and countryside service, said: "The aim is for all walkers who venture over the coastal path can look down onto these beautiful beaches and have an unspoilt view."
Towards the end of the afternoon of hard graft the beach looked pristine.