THE people of Bude were glad to welcome Kiko Matthews to Summerleaze beach recently, undertaking a huge ‘Kik-Plastic’ beach clean during her stay in the seaside town.

Kiko Matthews, the fastest female to row the Atlantic solo, is on a mission to cycle 7,200km of the coast, and stopped off in Bude recently to help local environmental groups undertake a big beach clean as part of her project, Kik-Plastic. Also visiting that day was new leader of Cornwall Council, Cllr Julian German, who came to find out more about how Bude is tackling the plastic crisis.

Representatives from Bude Rubbish Action Group (BRAG), Bude Cleaner Seas Project and A Greener Bude joined Kiko on Summerleaze beach, as well as the mayor Bob Willingham.

Cllr German visited Summerleaze to see how the community is working to tackle the climate emergency, declared recently. He joined representatives from A Greener Bude, an umbrella scheme created by the town’s most influential plastic warriors and environmental organisations, representatives from the Bude Cleaner Seas Project, Mors Bags Bude Baggers — a group who meet once a month to sew, cut out bags, swap material to make reusable fabric shopping bags — the Your Shore Beach Rangers and Bude Rubbish Action Group (BRAG).

He also met Kiko, who became the fastest female to row the Atlantic solo and unsupported last year. Kiko started Kik-Plastic, which aims to grow community awareness around plastic and the environment as she cycles 7,200km of the coast, stopping each day to help with a beach clean.

Avril Sainsbury, from the Cleaner Seas Project in Bude, said: “We’ve got a very strong community and lots of environment groups who work together under the banner of A Greener Bude.

“We are very big on beach cleaning in Bude and we were delighted to welcome Kiko Matthews and Cllr German today to show them what we do here. Even when the beach looks beautifully clean, a sift through the sand will show microplastics which are damaging to our waterways and oceans.”

Cllr Rob Nolan, who was appointed as Cornwall Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for the environment and public protection, said: “It was great to meet the members of A Greener Bude and to hear about their tireless work in making their town more sustainable by tackling marine plastics, pollution and climate change to name but a few.

“As the new portfolio holder for the environment and public protection, I am looking forward to working with residents to identify how we can fight climate change together, including identifying what we need to do to become carbon neutral by 2030.”