A new Toy Library has been installed in the town as part of Plastic Free North Devon’s Visitor Campaign.Ilfracombe Holiday Park signed up to the campaign earlier in the year and installing a Toy Library was the one of the first actions they have taken.Families can borrow beach toys for their holiday and bring them back at the end of their stay. This latest Toy Library is the sixth that Plastic Free North Devon has installed in North Devon.Anne- Marie Eveleigh, Operations Manager, Plastic Free North Devon, said: “It’s fantastic to get Ilfracombe Holiday Park on board with the Visitor Campaign. They are looking at ways to reduce their impact on the environment and installing the Toy Library is a great first step as it is providing a tool to help reduce the impact of plastic pollution and ensure that these toys do not become single use items. We are looking forward to seeing what further actions they take in the future.”Ilfracombe Holiday Park Management said: “Ilfracombe Holiday Park is proud to announce its collaboration with Plastic Free North Devon, on an exciting project aimed at promoting sustainability and reducing plastic pollution. As part of Plastic Free North Devon’s Visitor Campaign, we have taken the initiative to install a bespoke, hand-built shed, which will serve as a Toy Library for our valued guests and the wider Ilfracombe community. Rather than purchasing buckets, spades, and polystyrene bodyboards for their holidays, only to be discarded on beaches or sent to landfill, families can now borrow these items from the Toy Library during their stay and return them at the end, ready for another family to enjoy. We are delighted to have partnered with Plastic Free North Devon on this initiative.”Local News – The Ilfracombe Magazine…

A newly constructed pathway, made from a resin that incorporates waste plastic, has been laid at Ilfracombe Harbour.The pathway which helps to address the issue of plastic waste also provides an extremely hard-wearing and anti-slip walkway for pedestrians. It guides individuals away from the unfenced edge of the harbour and has been designed to be the safest route to transit the area.The walkway, a testament to sustainability and resourcefulness, integrates discarded plastic straws, food packaging, bottles, and even plastic waste from Ilfracombe’s fishermen.By repurposing these materials into the pathway, the project significantly contributed to the reduction of plastic pollution, benefitting the local environment and marine life.Lead member for Climate and Biodiversity, Cllr Ricky Knight, said: “I was particularly interested to learn this pathway includes plastic waste which has been recycled by the town’s own fisherman and then created into a hard-wearing resin. A brilliant idea which I hope will be considered for other pathways across the district in the future.” The funding for this ecofriendly project was predominantly provided by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) under the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme. The project showcases the power of collective action and highlights how sustainable solutions can positively impact individuals’ daily lives while promoting ecofriendly practices.With the unveiling of this pioneering pathway, Ilfracombe sets an inspiring example for other communities, encouraging them to explore innovative ways to tackle plastic waste and adopt sustainable infrastructure solutions.Local News – The Ilfracombe Magazine…

lfracombe’s state-of-the-art watersports centre is finally open. The Watersports Hub at Larkstone Cove had its grand opening on 13 July.The ribbon cutting ceremony saw North Devon Council’s Leader, Chief Executive and Dehenna Davison MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up, joined by members of three local watersports clubs and the council’s Harbour and Property teams, to declare the hub officially open.The centre gives new homes to three local clubs – Ilfracombe Pilot Gig Club, Y-Sail and Ilfracombe Canoe Club. The facility gives them the opportunity to extend their memberships to the wider community and offer…

Independent town centre businesses in Ilfracombe can now apply for a grant to help spruce up their shopfronts.North Devon Council has launched the Town Centre Enhancement Scheme to encourage businesses to upgrade, repair and refurbish shopfronts to emphasise the individuality of the business premises and, where appropriate, the historic character of the town centres.The scheme is a capital grants scheme based on the award to North Devon Council within the UK Shared Prosperity fund investment plan for 2022/2024 within the ‘improvements to town centres and high streets’ strand. The council will contribute up to 50% of total eligible…

Friendships old and new, the D-Day landings, and a slice of Viking history were on the menu for Ilfracombe’s Twinning Association on their visit to Ifs in Normandy last month. After the French visited North Devon last year, it was Ilfracombe’s turn to take the ferry and spend four days as guests of their host families.Among the highlights were a visit to the British Normandy Memorial at Gold Beach, where the Ilfracombe/Ifs French Twinning Association laid a wreath in memory of the fallen. Terri Woof, whose father Norman Courtney had fought his way up the beach on 6th…

Ilfracombe’s new watersports hub is on track for a summer opening after passing a major milestone.The watersports centre at Larkstone Cove has reached practical completion, with builders Pearce Construction handing the keys to North Devon Council. An official opening for the centre is set to take place in mid- July.Before then, contractors Gunite will be completing work on the sea wall and Pearce Construction will be removing their site compound. The centre’s café, The Lime Kiln, will also be fitted out and once complete later this month, visitors will be able to enjoy its delicious menu while taking…

The Ilfracombe Tangled Charity are a local group of ladies who meet regularly to socialise and organise fundraising activities in and around the local area. Some of the members have been part of the Tangled group for almost 10 years and with new members joining regularly, they are growing all the time.The ladies usually meet one evening a month for their official Tangled meeting and this is an opportunity to plan events and discuss which charitable causes to support. They often hold meetings in local pubs and restaurants as they strongly believe in supporting local businesses.Their motto is…