Canoeists help keep East Devon beach clean

On Monday 6 June members of the public along with the Axe Vale Canoe Club and East Devon District Council Countryside team enjoyed an evening’s canoeing along the coast.

The guided trip from Beer to Branscombe took in the sights of the Jurassic coast from the water. Experienced canoeists from the Axe Vale Canoe Club led the way, while East Devon's Countryside Rangers provided expert knowledge on the local wildlife.

The group stopped on the shore of Little Beach, a small cove on Beer Head, a spot only accessible by water, where they enjoyed a picnic in the evening sunshine.

However, while they were there everyone felt compelled to clear up piles of rubbish, which had been washed up on the shore. After just a few minutes, they had filled nine bin bags full of waste, leaving the beach much cleaner and safer for wildlife.

Countryside Ranger, Nathan Robinson said: ‘’The canoe trips offered by the Countryside team and Axe Vale Canoe Club have always been popular. This is the first year we've offered a coastal canoe trip and it was great fun, as well as allowing us to enjoy the stunning Jurassic Coast and nesting seabirds, which live along the cliffs. We were lucky enough to spot nesting cormorants, shags, fulmar and herring gulls, as well as sighting a peregrine in the Underhooken.

‘’It was fantastic that everyone was so keen to help clean the beach and maintain the beautiful countryside we live in, adding a conservation benefit to the event. We’re really looking forward to working with the Canoe Club again and have a number of canoe safari events along the River Axe coming up during the summer.’’

More canoe safaris will take place on:

Thursday 16 June, 6pm to 9pm
Saturday 16 July, 6pm to 9pm
Monday 15 August, 6pm to 9pm

Those interested in attending a canoe safari or other Countryside events can find out more in the Countryside event guide, or online at eastdevoncountryside.co.uk
Places must be booked in advance either online or by telephone: 01395 517557.