The Newhouse Family Blog

We are offering a lucky winner family tickets to the groundbreaking new Sea Creatures tour, which – in a UK first – allows visitors to explore life beneath the ocean, with over 200 exhibits including 50 incredible cross-sections of REAL animals like whales, penguins and Great White Sharks, using the same plastination process developed by Dr. Gunther von Hagens.

Sea Creatures (www.seacreaturestour.com) opens at the Royal Horticultural Halls, Lawrence Hall in London between July 20 and August 30, before touring the UK, stopping in Edinburgh, Harrogate, and Belfast, and will see 50 ethically sourced, real-life specimens of creatures including a Baleen Whale, Whale Shark, Great White Shark, Dolphin, Seal, Octopus, Penguin and Sting Ray on display, allowing visitors to glimpse inside the majestic beasts, learning about the complex life systems within and why we need to protect precious ocean life.

Alongside the full-body exhibits will be a host of smaller displays, including the lung and eyeball of a Mink Whale, a whale’s kidney, the egg of a King Penguin, a Sea Lion’s heart and shark’s teeth.

Sea Creatures visitors will be able to explore the exhibition using a special augmented reality app. There will also be giant, interactive mirrors that transport visitors beneath the ocean.

For younger guests, a ball pit game teaches them about the perils of plastic in our oceans. A digital screen around the pit shows colourful sharks and fish. But when a plastic bottle pops up on the screen, little ones are encouraged to throw the balls at it to save our marine life. Guests can also relax on bean bags in the education cinema.

How To Enter

If you would like to win a family ticket for this amazing tour, simply enter via Rafflecoper below. Tickets can be for a date and venue of your choice from the tour. GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T&CS

– Travel is not included

– Tickets can be claimed for any of the dates on the tour:

LONDON

20th July 2018 – 30th August 2018
RHS Lawrence Hall, Greycoat Street, London SW1P 2QD

SCOTLAND
21st September 2018 – 18th October 2018 Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh EH28 8NB

YORKSHIRE
30th October 2018 – 28th November 2018 Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Road, Harrogate HG1 5LA

NORTHERN IRELAND
8th December 2018 – 2nd January 2019
Titanic Exhibition Centre, 17 Queens Road, Belfast BT3 9DU

By John Haken, Director at WF Denny

The term ‘plastic pollution’ is one that many households are now aware of, thanks in large part to recent publicity from David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II, which illustrated the extent of the issue and the devastating impact plastic waste is having on the planet.

A report featured in Science Magazine in 2017 revealed that 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced to date. Of this, 6.3 billion tonnes is now waste, and 79% of this can either be found in landfill or the natural environment.

It is impossible to deny the large-scale damage that plastic waste is having on the environment, which has resulted in a growing number of households looking to reduce the amount they use in order to avoid contributing to the problem.

We give our tips on how to do so below.

1) Check your takeaway

Find out whether your favourite takeaway is using recyclable or compostable packaging. Very often, cheap polystyrene is used by takeaways, and while this is technically recyclable, these items are not recycled in any post-consumer waste streams. Because of this, the government is looking into placing additional taxing on polystyrene use to encourage businesses to seek a more environmentally-friendly option. Instead, look out for card boxes, compostable boxes and paper bags in your takeaway.

2) Opt for loose tea

You would be forgiven for thinking that tea bags are fully compostable, however, this is not the case. Most tea bags are made with 70-80% paper fibre, while the rest is produced from a heat-resistant polypropylene mesh. While homeowners are advised to compost tea bags, these polypropylene fibres will accumulate in the garden, and the only way to remove them completely is to sieve the soil. Loose tea is better for the environment, and will also help you to save money.

3) Shop sustainably

One of the most important factors to consider when trying to reduce plastic use is whether you are buying too much to begin with. The best place to reduce food waste is during your regular food shop. Where possible, opt for products made from cardboard, foil or recyclable plastics. What’s more, check the recycling information on the packaging, and when purchasing fresh fruit and veg, buy loose items instead of those that are packaged.

4) Avoid black plastic food trays

Black plastic trays are widely used to hold ready meals because they are usually microwaveable. However, the majority of these plastics cannot be recycled due to their colour. Black plastics are usually covered with carbon black pigments, which reflect little to no light, causing problems in recycling centres. Avoid this by choosing ready meals that are packaged in foil or card trays.

5) Swap disposable for reusable

Where possible, try to opt for reusable cups when visiting coffee houses. While many people consider this an inconvenience, opting to do this can have a positive impact on the environment. In fact, many coffee chains are now offering discounts when customers bring their own drinks vessel.