Torbay turning off the lights for Earth Hour 2023

Festoon lighting along Torquay seafront and the lights at Torre Abbey will be turned off for an hour tonight (Saturday, March 25) to mark Earth Hour 2023.

The lights will be turned off at 8.30pm in a show of solidarity as the world unites in support of people and the planet. Iconic UK landmarks, including the London Eye, Edinburgh Castle and the Senedd building, will all be turning off their lights.

Last year, hundreds of people attended Earth Hour Torbay on Torre Abbey Sands. However, this year, due to high tides and potential heavy rain, the event has been moved into the Spanish Barn at Torre Abbey.

People who want to take part are encouraged to take a lantern and meet at the Spanish Barn at 8.30pm to sign the climate pledge and enjoy an hour of unplugged free family fun and entertainment.

Expect fire and light acts, stilt walkers drumming, fun and games and even a disco in the dark to add some magic to the night. A special piece of light up artwork will also be revealed when the lights are switched off.

If at all possible, people are also being asked to try and get to the event on foot, by bike or by using public transport.

The festoon lighting along the seafront and also the lights at Torre Abbey will switch off for the hour and it is  hoped that other businesses around the Bay will also support the event by turning off some of their exterior lighting for the duration of Earth Hour.

Drum Devon, a social enterprise which provides world roots drum and percussion workshops to community groups, schools and events, will again be joining Earth Hour Torbay - bringing their beats to the Bay.

The event has been funded by Torbay Council and the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark and is being delivered by Tonic Creatives. For instructions on how to make a lantern, visit www.toniccreatives.co.uk

The event is not just about turning off lights for one hour, Earth Hour is a time to switch off from distractions and focus on nature.

At the CBD COP15 conference in Montreal, governments agreed to a global mission to halt and reverse the loss of nature by 2030, while the IPCC has shown that nature is our ally in the fight against climate change.  

WWF is calling on politicians to show their commitment to tackling the drivers of biodiversity loss and ramp up ambition for its restoration - and, ahead of Earth Hour 2023, Torbay MP Kevin Foster joined with WWF in a pledge to harness the power of nature to tackle climate change.

He said: “I was pleased to join with the WWF to discuss the role nature can play in fighting climate change and the work we can all do to support the Earth Hour 2023.”

A WWF spokesperson said: "Nature is our life support system. When we work with nature and not against it, we have cleaner;air to breathe, better water to drink, and healthier food to eat. And science shows that time spent in nature makes us happier and healthier.;;  

"But nature in the UK is under threat: a quarter of all our mammals are at risk of extinction; over the last 50 years we’ve lost 38million birds from our skies; 97 per cent of our wildflower meadows have disappeared since the 1930s; and 92 per cent of the UK’s seagrass meadows, which can absorb carbon more efficiently than tropical rainforests, have been lost in the last century.

Becky, director of advocacy at WWF, said: “The UK is in the top ten per cent of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, but together we can make the changes necessary to bring our wild isles back to life.  

"We’re delighted to see MPs from across the UK give their support to Earth Hour and pledge to protect our planet. We hope they will be a champion for nature in Parliament and their communities throughout the year, and inspire their constituents and colleagues to act to restore nature.”;