HAVE you signed up yet for North Devon's Big Beach Clean? With just over a week to go, you need to get your skates on.

You can do as little or as much as you want; it will all help to protect North Devon's coastal environment and the local wildlife which depend on it to survive.

Great support has already come in from volunteers across North Devon but more help is needed for beaches at Hartland and Clovelly and coastal stretches from Lynmouth to Ilfracombe.

The event is being organised by North Devon's Biosphere Reserve team and supported by the

Journal

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It takes place over an extended weekend from March 19-21.

Already teams from schools, businesses, clubs and organisations have signed up along with 50 individuals and family groups, all determined to make a big difference to our local beaches.

Other businesses which cannot take part on a practical level are, nonetheless, showing their hearty support by donating fabulous prizes for a draw.

Everyone who turns up to clean a beach will be able to enter. Prizes include meals at some of North Devon's most celebrated restaurants and tickets to family attractions.

Already signed up for the challenge is Tim Tanton, founder and chairman of Paddle4Relief, who said: "This is going to be an awesome weekend.

"Hats off, and many thanks to the Biosphere team for organising such a massive challenge. We, at Paddle4Relief, are delighted to have been invited to join something we feel so passionately about.

"We are surfers who care about humanity and the environment and are committed to keeping our playground safe and clean for everyone."

Borderline Morris Dancers are delighted to be part of the Biosphere's beach clean, too.

Spokesman Howard Laker said: "Half of our dance programme is around our beautiful coastline. Let's make it clean and beautiful."

Jackie Ward, from Combe Martin Museum, said the museum, parish council and primary school have joined forces to bring together lots of volunteers.

She added: "We have fabulous beaches here in North Devon of which we are all very proud."

Anne Brown, coastwise volunteer, pointed out: "Every piece of rubbish collected is worthwhile because it is one less that might kill or maim a sea creature.

"The rubbish on our beaches and strandline is a sad demonstration of the carelessness with which we treat our environment; please let us work together to make a difference to this amazing coastline that has been entrusted to us."

Another Coastwise volunteer Malcolm Roberts added: "On Instow beach last year (there) was a tangle of old fishing net. A female crab had got tangled in it, attracting lots of male crabs that got tangled themselves.

"They would have died if we hadn't cut them free and cleared the net. Rubbish on the beach or in the sea does real harm to lots of wildlife."

Coastwise volunteers Helen and Don Hills are concerned about micro-sized pieces of plastic in the food chain and pointed out: "Nobody knows at this stage how this will affect life on this planet."

Emily Butler, from Chulmleigh Community College, said: "I think it is very important for us to keep our beaches clean.

"We live in a beautiful part of the country so I am really keen we keep it looking nice for ourselves and for others, also to help protect the wildlife in our area. I am really pleased to be part of this project."

Josie Spence, also of Chulmleigh Community College, added: "Often in the summer I like to spend time at the beach. I enjoy sitting on the warm sand in the sun, but I don't like having to look at rubbish that's been left there.

"Thousands of people travel to England to lie on the beach in the sun, but with the increase in visitors there becomes an increase in litter.

"Cleaning the beaches will boost the number of visitors, make the beaches look better and make them safer for wildlife. I think the Biosphere Beach Clean Weekend is a brilliant way to make visitors' trips to the beach even better."

● To sign up for the beach clean go to www.northdevonbiosphere.org.uk or phone 01237 423655.