About us

Anyone who uses Instow beach regularly knows that sand, lovely as it is, never stops moving. Driven by the wind and the tide, it builds against the sea wall and blows over onto the pavement and the road, affecting residents and local businesses. For pedestrians this is a real hazard, and more so for anyone with a mobility issue. The sand covers residents’ gardens and also blocks the drains, which leads to flooding. This errant sand mars the look of a place that so many people value.

Formed by the Instow Sand Action Group, Instow Sands CIC, a not-for-profit company, has been created to give us a formal footing so that we can develop community-based projects to manage the sand in agreement with the relevant bodies, and to raise funds for ongoing maintenance for the beach and village.

The Sand Action Group organises monthly working parties which are inclusive and open to all. Here, a group of up to thirty local residents and those from further afield gather in Instow to help the community through targeted events such as clearing sand blown over onto the pavements, driveways and gardens by the latest gale. It is often a mammoth task, and a few days of strong wind can undo all their work, but what lasts is the creation of community spirit, where new friendships are formed and bonds are made.

The balanced management of Instow’s natural resources and its residents’ needs is therefore of vital importance. Instow falls within an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and has been designated a Biosphere, a UNESCO ‘site of excellence’, so the beach and surroundings need careful management. To reduce the volume of sand that reaches the pavement and the road and to keep the seafront safe to use, the level of sand on the beach-side of the wall needs to be significantly lower than the drains and the pavement above.

This was last achieved in June 2026. It called for a large number of volunteers to help, and for Christie Estates and Instow Parish Council to hire local contractors with the right machinery for the work, with North Devon Highways tackling the dune-covered roads and pavements, all of which was very costly. We were fortunate to have the support of the Royal Marines based in the village, who worked tirelessly with their heavy machinery which cut the costs massively, but we cannot expect to call on them every time the sand returns. Remedial work needs to happen regularly and it is expensive. It costs thousands of pounds per year through the hire of heavy machinery and personnel to maintain the beach to a safe level, so raising funds to help tackle the issue is of great importance.

The SSSI status brings with it an exceptionally high number of stakeholders who, together with the beach owners Christie Estates, North Devon Highways, South West Water and Instow Parish Council, have an interest in the village and its resources. Instow Sands CIC provides a platform and point of contact to improve communication, to gather and share information, and to help form robust and harmonious strategies for the future, to safeguard residents and the environment alike.

If you are one of the many people who love Instow, whether you walk on the beach with or without a dog, sit on the sand with your children, or simply enjoy the view, we need your help to maintain it as a haven for everyone to enjoy. Come and join one of our work parties and make a difference, or make a donation — every contribution, large or small, will be gratefully received and put to good use.