Eco Friendly North Devon

As the home of the UK’s first surf reserve and a commitment to marine conservation around Lundy Island, it is no surprise that being eco-friendly is high on the agenda across North Devon.

Almost the entire region falls within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and you can find Sites of Special Scientific Interest and a UNESCO Biosphere within North Devon, which makes it even more important that we work together to preserve these beautiful places for future generations to enjoy. The whole of Devon has declared a climate emergency and aims to be net zero across the county by 2050 at the latest. There are several plans in place to reach this goal, including making natural improvements to absorb carbon, reducing or eliminating single use plastics from many businesses and offering electric vehicle charging, among other ideas.

More and more people are starting to turn to eco-tourism, allowing visitors to enjoy the same North Devon as before, without having to worry about their carbon footprint. During your visit, you’ll notice a bigger emphasis on using local products on menus and around attractions and accommodation providers or by using renewable energy for electricity.

Plastic free in North Devon

One way that the people of North Devon are working towards being more sustainable is through the efforts of Plastic Free North Devon, a local environmental charity. Together they are working towards reducing the use of plastic across the region, raising awareness about recycling and organising litter picks to keep the coast and countryside clean and free from plastic. They are hosting a range of organised beach cleans and other events throughout the year – why not join in and help combat your own carbon footprint?

Ways you can be eco-friendly in North Devon

You don’t have to sacrifice having fun on your trip to North Devon in order to be eco friendly. Here are some ways you can help the whole county reach its target of net zero.

Use public transport where you can. There are trains connected to the national rail network, National Express coaches running out of Barnstaple, ferries connecting you to places like Appledore and Instow and buses running throughout the region.

Make sure to take your litter with you.

Only have picnics and BBQs in designated places.

Recycle where you can.

Choose businesses that use sustainable, local produce.