Hello! I'm Pat, but you can call me Action Nan...

Action Nan, aka Pat Smith and owner of BosinverAction Nan Bosinver Farm Cottages, first achieved recognition in 2018 with press, social media and TV coverage of her diary of 52 beach cleans – one a week throughout that year. Pat documented her efforts in a diary that captured national attention, gaining her an appearance on the BBC One ShowAction Nan on the BBC One Show, an interview by Jeremy Vine for Radio 2, and a video on the BBC’s Amazing Humans series.

Pat is a passionate advocate for the environment, driven by a desire to inspire the next generation to connect with and cherish the natural world. She strives to help people of all ages discover the joy of nature, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation. Her hope is that by falling in love with nature, both kids and grown-ups will naturally want to care for and protect it.

Incensed by the damage single-use plastic has to the environment, Pat launched the Final Straw Cornwall campaign in 2017 to raise awareness of plastic pollution and its catastrophic impact on our oceans and coastlines. She felt a sense of responsibility towards future generations, and decided to start with trying to eliminate plastic straws. The campaign inspired over 500 Cornish businesses to take action, spread across other regions, and contributed to the UK’s 2020 ban on single-use plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds. Pat’s efforts to educate youngsters on the perils of plastic have been featured in an episode of CBeebies.

Pat is also proud to have been appointed a Keep Britain Tidy Litter Ambassador and she runs litter-picking groups in Mevagissey, St Austell and Charlestown. She has a fortnightly Coastwatch slot on BBC Radio Cornwall where she talks about Charlestown life and her ongoing litter picks and beach cleans.

Over the years Pat has also raised considerable sums of money for charity including cycling from John O’ Groats to Lands End in 2006 (aged 57) and walking the entire 300 mile coast of Cornwall solo in 2016. Further plans are being hatched for 2026…watch this space!

Action Nan on YouTube

Inspiring Others to Activism – “Somebody Should Do Something!” | Pat Smith | TEDxTruro

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The ‘Action Nan’ Fighting Plastic Pollution On Cornwall’s Beaches

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Action Nan on the Coast Path

Action Nan walks from Porthcurno to Newlyn for the RNLI Penlee Lifeboat

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Action Nan - I Am Somebody

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In 1948, when I was born, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were 310.5 parts per million. But within my lifetime those levels have increased 111.05 ppm to 421.55 ppm! This is the type of insight that motivates my activism and drives me to campaign for a better world for future generations.

In 1948 it was 310.50 PPM

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