There are two nationally recognised awards which can be used to help you decide what is on offer when you see their flags flying above a beach.
Awards are based on quality of management, cleanliness, water quality and other criteria. The most prestigious being the Blue Flag Awards.
Other awards made to Torbay beaches include the Keep Britain Tidy Seaside Awards and the Good Beach Guide recommendation from the Marine Conservation Society.
We would like to thank English Riviera Bid Company Ltd for their support of the Beach Awards and Blue Flag scheme in Torbay.
Find out more about Beach Awards.
A key aspect of the Blue Flag Award is a commitment to environmental education initiatives. You can find more information about our environmental education activities below.
Activities planned for the next bathing season:
Seaside Adventurers |
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Aim of activity: |
Seaside Adventurers aims to connect children and young people with nature, specifically our beautiful beaches, in order that they feel passionately enough to want to conserve and protect them now & in the future. Through a variety of games and activities, our sessions aim to educate children about the Torbay (& wider) coastal environment and how they can help to sustain it for future generations. |
Key theme / message: |
Providing environmental information to children. |
Delivery method: |
Organised activities – Dates are yet to be confirmed but will be posted on Facebook page and posters. Several sessions will take place during the summer season. |
Target audience: |
Children between 3 and 14 |
Marketing and communications planned to promote the activity:
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On information boards at the beach Organisations website Via social media Poster |
Torbay Cleaner Coast Initiative |
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Aim of activity: |
Torbay Cleaner Coasts Initiative – Beach and Coastal Cleans, to engage with an outdoor activity. To help clean up litter from a coastal area, to learn more about this coastal environment. |
Key theme / message: |
Environmental awareness and coastal pollution issues. |
Delivery method: |
Organised activities – 2 - 3 a month. |
Target audience: |
Visitors and locals of all ages. |
Marketing and communications planned to promote the activity: |
On information boards at the beach Organisations website torbaycleanercoasts@gmail.com Via social media |
Rock Solid Coasteering |
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Aim of activity: |
Rock Solid Coasteering aims to bring you closer to The UNESCO Geopark through adventure on well guided adrenaline and education tours. While you scale, cave, jump and climb you will learn about the rocks, the history and be wowed by pirate tales from the forgotten past. |
Key theme / message: |
Connect to the dynamic environment through adventure and storytelling. Thrill yourself with stunning scenery and unique wildlife. |
Delivery method: |
Organised activities – Tours lasting 2-3 hours, guided with all equipment provided. |
Target audience: |
Families, couples, large groups. |
Marketing and communications planned to promote the activity: |
On information boards at the beach Organisations website www.rocksolidcoasteering.uk Through WhatsApp 07723088292 |
Cove Discovery Project |
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Aim of activity: |
Cove Discovery Project - To promote marine conservation through education to children at school and at the beach. This includes a beach laboratory which involves taking water samples and discovering what secrets are hidden within the droplets. We find plankton, both phytoplankton and zooplankton, and inevitably we discover micro plastics. |
Key theme / message: |
Marine life and habitat education |
Delivery method: |
Information boards Organised activities |
Target audience: |
Children of all ages up to 16 |
Marketing and communications planned to promote the activity: |
Organisations website www.thecovediscoveryproject.com Via social media |
Ocean Conservation Trust – Blue Meadows Part A |
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Aim of activity: |
Blue Meadows – seagrass protection, restoration, monitoring and engagement. This includes installation of seasonal sensitive habitat marker buoys around all the established beds in Tor Bay; replanting both seeds and whole plants in St Mary’s, Brixham; monitoring beds via eDNA samples, drop down cameras, ROV monitoring and diver monitoring; and various engagement events aimed at raising awareness and action for local seagrass meadows. |
Key theme / message: |
Habitat restoration, protection and monitoring; alongside community engagement raising awareness of seagrass habitats in Torbay. |
Delivery method: |
Organised engagement activities Replanting seagrass in St Mary’s, Brixham Monitoring seagrass meadows via various methods across Tor Bay Protection measures including seasonal marker buoys and Advanced Mooring Systems |
Target audience: |
Visitors and locals of all ages |
Marketing and communications planned to promote the activity: |
Organisations website bluemeadows@oceanconservationtrust.org |
Ocean Conservation Trust – Blue Meadows engagement programme Part B |
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Aim of activity: |
A variety of engagement activities surrounding raising awareness and increasing personal connection to seagrass meadows in Torbay. This includes an educational gazebo, with interactive activities such as nutrient ball rolling and use of VR headsets. In 2024, we ran a seagrass stroll, where public got involved in collecting washed up seagrass for use in our restoration work. Alongside continuing these activities next year, we also hope to run other activities such as snorkelling sessions and focused conversations with community groups. |
Key theme / message: |
Connecting communities to seagrass meadows and empowering them to take action on its protection. |
Delivery method: |
Organised engagement activities |
Target audience: |
Visitors and locals of all ages |
Contact: bluemeadows@oceanconservationtrust.org |
Activities which have taken place:
Seaside Adventurers |
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Aim of activity: |
Seaside Adventurers aims to connect children and young people with nature, specifically our beautiful beaches, in order that they feel passionately enough to want to conserve and protect them now & in the future. Through a variety of games and activities, our sessions aim to educate children about the Torbay (& wider) coastal environment and how they can help to sustain it for future generations. |
Key theme / message: |
Providing environmental information to children. |
Delivery method: |
On information boards at the beach Organisations website Via social media |
Target audience: |
Children between 3 and 14 |
Marketing and communications used to promote activity:
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On information boards at the beach Organisations website Via social media |
Approx. number of people who engaged or participated? |
60 |
Notable successes: |
Good attendance at all events |
Were any improvements for this activity identified?
Do you have a plan to implement these improvements? |
More promotion of events
Events being put on council websites |
Torbay Cleaner Coast Initiative |
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Aim of activity: |
Torbay Cleaner Coasts Initiative – Beach and Coastal Cleans, to engage with an outdoor activity. To help clean up litter from a coastal area, to learn more about this coastal environment. |
Key theme / message: |
Environmental awareness and coastal pollution issues. |
Delivery method: |
Organised activities – 2 - 3 a month. |
Target audience: |
Visitors and locals of all ages |
Marketing and communications used to promote activity: |
On information boards at the beach Organisations website Via social media |
Approx. number of people who engaged or participated? |
158 Volunteers |
Notable successes:
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10 beach cleans 2270kg of litter removed 33 sacks of rubbish removed in 2024 6.5 sacks of rubbish recycled in 2024
187 people engaged with in an educational capacity TCCI has 3.7k followers on FB Average reach 13k on FB |
Were any improvements for this activity identified?
Do you have a plan to implement these improvements? |
We need new and more steering group members (currently advertising for some).
Volunteer numbers have continuously improved since covid. |
Wild Planet Trust Seagrass Protection and Monitoring |
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Aim of activity: |
Seagrass protection and monitoring Wild Planet Trust installed three seagrass friendly (advanced mooring systems) buoys into Fishcombe Bay at the end of the summer season 2021. They have been monitoring the seagrass beds there for several years. The next phase of this project is two-fold. 1) Monitor the seagrass beds to evaluate the success of the moorings 2) Initialise an awareness raising project using social media and internet channels to motivate positive actions from specialised groups (e.g. boat users) to protect the seagrass beds in The Bay While the main focus is in Fishcombe Bay and Beacon Cove, there are known seagrass beds in other areas of the Bay. |
Key theme / message: |
Sea grass monitoring and awareness |
Delivery method: |
Information boards Interpretation centre / museum Organised activities |
Target audience: |
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Marketing and communications used to promote activity:
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Information boards Interpretation centre (Paignton Zoo) Organised activities – Monthly monitoring activities |
Approx. number of people who engaged or participated? |
1030 |
Notable successes:
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Visited 5 out of the 6 beds in Torbay, most have seen an increase in density from the last time they were surveyed. Kayaking trip for local informants to seagrass beds was very well received. |
Were any improvements for this activity identified?
Do you have a plan to implement these improvements? |
Want a more targeted approach to engagement – reach the people who don’t know or care about seagrass.
Plans are forming to address tourism companies and fishers. |
Seal Project |
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Aim of activity: |
Seal Project – Educational Marquee To engage with the public, advance the education and awareness through all ages, from the very young to the much younger at heart. To inform them about their work to monitor the local seal population and educate people about seals and the importance of protecting the environment they live in. |
Key theme / message: |
Seal awareness |
Delivery method: |
Information boards Organised activities |
Target audience: |
Locals and visitors of all ages |
Marketing and communications used to promote activity: |
On information boards at the beach Organisations website Via social media |
Approx. number of people who engaged or participated? |
400 |
Notable successes: |
Events were well attended |
Were any improvements for this activity identified?
Do you have a plan to implement these improvements? |
Some events cancelled due to unexpected bad weather.
Better provision to move event dates. |
Rockpool Rambles |
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Aim of activity: |
Rock Pool Rambles held by the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trusts education team. - Marine life found included squid eggs about the size of a mop head, a colony of sea squirts, star ascidian, snakelock anemone, strawberry anemone, a sea potato and a common cockle. |
Key theme / message: |
Marine life education |
Delivery method: |
Information boards Organised activities |
Target audience: |
Children aged between 6 & 14 |
Marketing and communications used to promote activity: |
On information boards at the beach Organisations website Via social media |
Approx. number of people who engaged or participated? |
200 |
Notable successes: |
Good attendance |
Blue Flag and Combined Award - Environmental Education Activities 2025