The Great British Beach Clean returns from Friday 19 to Sunday 28 September 2025, inviting communities across the UK, including beautiful Devon, to play a part in eradicating marine litter while contributing valuable conservation data.
Here are the confirmed events happening in Devon during that period:
- Friday 19 September 2025, Westward Ho! Flagship Great British Beach Clean with holidaycottages.co.uk, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Volunteers will clean and record litter along Westward Ho! beach to strengthen a 30-year plus dataset. - Saturday 20 September 2025
- Slapton Sands – 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Slapton Sands Memorial Car Park (TQ7 2TQ). Bring family, friends and even dogs to help.
- Croyde Beach – 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., meet by the lifeguard hut. Join the Ruda Rangers; free parking available, and it’s school-friendly
- Monday 22 September 2025
Bovisand – 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., meeting at the car park by Cliff Edge Café (on the FORT side, PL9 0AD). Note parking charges apply. - Sunday 28 September 2025
Wembury – 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Wembury Marine Centre. Capacity capped at 100 volunteers (around 87 spots remain). - Additionally, while not solely Great British Beach Clean, these Devon-based clean-ups also align with the same period and are worth noting:
- Woolacombe Silent Disco Beach Clean — a fun, music-powered clean combining volunteering with dancing, part of Earth Action North Devon’s community cleans, held on 27 September.
- Instow Beach Clean — another local clean on 26 September, aligned with fall-period community efforts.
- Tarka Trail & Estuary Clean Up — 26 September, ideal if you’d like to help a bit further inland.
Why Participate?
Your Efforts = Real Impact
Every piece of litter you collect contributes to an ongoing marine pollution survey, empowering campaigns that drive policy change, from tackling plastic waste to improving marine protection.
Litter Levels Are Rising, But Change Is Possible
In 2024, volunteers collected over 750,000 plastic items nationwide, nearly 2 items per square metre, marking a sharp 9.5% increase in single-use plastics. Yet, carrier bag reductions (80–88%) show policy works.
Feel-Good Conservation
Take the plunge (metaphorically): beach cleans are proven to boost well-being, foster community spirit, and strengthen personal connections to nature.
How to Join
- Pick a day and beach – Choose from Westward Ho!, Slapton Sands, Croyde, Bovisand, or Wembury and even Woolacombe or Instow!
- Turn up (most don’t require sign-up) – Arrive at the meeting points listed; many provide gloves, bags, and data sheets.
- Bring essentials – Weather-appropriate clothing, comfy footwear, water/snacks and your enthusiasm!
- Record what you pick – Collect and survey litter for scientific and advocacy use.
- Have fun and spread the word – Share your impact on social media with hashtags like #GBBC2025, #DevonBeachClean, #MarineConservation for added momentum.
By joining one of Devon’s Great British Beach Clean events this September, you’ll help restore coastal beauty, gather data that powers marine policy, and feel that incredible “we changed something” buzz.
