Combe Martin Toy Library Installed!
PROTECT OUR PLAYGROUND’ TOY LIBRARY LAUNCHES AT COMBE MARTIN
The bespoke hand-built shed is the latest toy library to be installed as part of local environmental charity Plastic Free North Devon’s Visitor Campaign.
The aim of the toy libraries is to provide a resource for families to be part of a ‘circular economy’ when it comes to beach toys - rather than families buying buckets, spades, and polystyrene bodyboards for their holidays and them being abandoned on our beaches, sent to landfill, or just sitting unused at the back of cupboards. Families can borrow beach toys for their holiday and then bring them back at the end of their stay, ready for another family to use.
This latest Toy Library is the fourth installed with funding from the Welcome Back Fund through North Devon Council (fifth in total) benefitting visitors and locals in North Devon beachside locations to protect our coastline. It is located just off the beach in the car park next to OSKC Water Sports shop: What3words location: titles.tricks.capers
Anne-Marie Eveleigh, Operations Director, Plastic Free North Devon, explains how the toy library took shape:
“The Combe Martin Toy Library is another fantastic community effort. It has been driven by members of the community who are passionate about providing a tool to help reduce the impact of plastic pollution and ensure that these toys do not become single use items. With the climate crisis and the rising cost of living at the forefront of a lot of people’s minds right now, we’re really grateful for the opportunity to work with our local communities to make a positive difference where we can, one small step at a time.
Our sincerest thanks to Jaye Compton for being the driving force of the project, Vince from OSKC Water Sports for providing the land to put the library on, Combe Martin Community shop for their support and to North Devon Council who were able to fund the expansion of this project through the Welcome Back Fund. We would also like to thank those who have offered to be a volunteer guardian for the Toy Library including Donna Opix, Jaye Compton and the Combe Martin Community Shop.”
Jaye Compton, Combe Martin resident and Toy Library lead explains more about the community initiative :
‘Having this toy library installed for Combe Martin is such a positive thing for the community and is teaching our children about the impact of single use plastic & getting them inspired by the beautiful place we live. The thing I’ve heard most, is about toys being discarded on the beach at the end of the day and this library is a lovely way to make sure these toys do not go to waste. Not everyone is fortunate in being able to afford to buy new toys but this will give children a variety of toys to play with, without the cost.”
Combe Martin Primary School are fully supportive of this installation and will be asking the pupils of the school to create a sign directing people to the location of the Toy Library.
Dee Seddon, Combe Martin Primary School Headteacher explains their support:
"As a school we are passionate about sustainability and keeping our oceans plastic free and are over the moon that the toy library is being set up so that we can reuse items at the beach. Such a simple and innovative idea, we hope it will inspire the children of Combe Martin to come up with their own plans to make a difference for our community and environment."
The toy libraries are just one way that Plastic Free North Devon’s Visitor Campaign seeks to harness the collective power of local businesses and community to educate and empower visitors to protect and care for the amazing nature right here on our doorstep. The campaign includes resources and ideas for businesses to use to inspire behavioral change, a newly released Sustainable Housekeeping Toolkit for cleaners, property managers and business owners, and a discount on the Protect our Playground sustainable wooden bellyboards for all Visitor Campaign sign ups. Visit www.plasticfreenorthdevon.org/plastic-free-holidays for more information.
And if you live further afield and would like to build your own shed, the original design by PFND trustee Andy Clee is available open source here:
https://plasticfreenorthdevon.org/blog/protect-our-playground-toy-library-launches-in-croyde.