Newton & Noss Environment Group

22/05/2026

Some more fab photos and videos from our amazing Surfers Against Sewage Paddle Out Protest last weekend...

Thank you so much to our amazing photographers and videographers 🙏

You can purchase some of the photos from Sound Scout (Anastasia) with 50% of proceeds going to SAS! 🌊

https://www.soundscout.co.uk/blogs/news/paddleout-26-noss-mayo

© Leo Phillips 📸
© Anastasia Benjafield 📸
© Tom Moran📸
© Sarah Brown 📸

20/05/2026

🌊PADDLE OUT UPDATE 🛟

What a turn out on Saturday! 🥳 THANK YOU!!

We estimate there were over 200 people in and on and around the water supporting the Paddle Out!

We keep being asked: “What can we do to help? What next?”
🙋‍♀️🙋
Here are five things:

1. Knowledge is power. Spend a bit of time getting to know the sewage infrastructure in Newton and Noss Creeks. There are five storm overflows in the creeks. 💩💩💩💩💩
https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/environment/rivers-and-bathing-waters/waterfitlive/storm-overflow-map

Which one is recorded as having discharged YESTERDAY for almost 8 HOURS????!!! 🙈🙊

https://top-of-the-poops.org/overflow/SBB00157

https://www.floodmapper.co.uk/data-explorer/search-sewage-report/1f9641a1-aaf8-11ee-baa2-0242ac140003/Noss%20Mayo

2. Download Surfers Against Sewage Spill Alert app (this hasn’t got Noss Creek on it just yet but will do in the next couple of weeks now it's finally recognised as a Bathing Water!).

3. Donate or follow the work of Surfers Against Sewage, The Rivers Trust, Devon Wildlife Fund etc to help them campaign and work hard for our waterways.

4. Write to our local MP, Rebecca Smith, to keep her reminded of how she can grill water companies and ministers, demand stronger laws, and vote for change. Rebecca came to our paddle out and supported our Bathing Water Application so let’s keep up the good work!
https://www.sas.org.uk/water-quality/our-water-quality-campaigns/

5. Follow 'Newton and Noss Environment Group’ and other local environment pages to look out for local initiatives and further ways to volunteer.

YEM - Yealm Estuary to Moor
Wembury Marine Centre
WATER "Wild About The Erme River"

© Leo Phillips 📸

20/05/2026

Hundreds of people across the South Hams joined nationwide “Paddle Out” protests, organised by the environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage.

18/05/2026

16/05/2026

Hurrah! Thank you so much to everyone who came and supported us!
It was amazing!

More to follow but an early night for all here at BWS HQ

What a week!

16/05/2026

Today’s the day! 🙌🙌🙌

If you fancy - bring any banners or maracas or whistles to make lots of noise 🪧 🪇🪈🥁

15/05/2026

14/05/2026

Thank you so much to Newton Ferrers Primary School and the lovely Year 5s for helping us create some incredible placards for Saturday’s peaceful protest!!
🪧 💩 🎨 🐠
What a talented bunch! 👏 👏 👏

And thank you to the Swan for displaying them until Saturday!
🦢 🦢 🦢

14/05/2026

🪧 💩 PADDLE OUT PROTEST 💩 🪧

Some more details for Saturday:

🏄‍♀️ There will be a minimal amount of ‘paddling out’. We are hoping for a strong turn out and so we will mostly be based around Pope’s Quay in Noss Creek.

📸 We need to capture the event. Thank you to our amazing team of photographers and videographers. [If anyone does not want their own/their child’s photo taken please see a member of our hi-vis’d team]

🛟 Safety is paramount. We will have safety boats and a trained first aider present. We are watching the weather and for any sewage overflows and will react accordingly🤞

💪 we will be just one of over 50 paddle outs happening all around the country. Join the movement for cleaner waters ✌️ ☮️