Press Releases

A green Christmas lies in store at the Waterfront

The festive season is soon approaching and the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea is going green to mark the occasion.

This weekend (Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 Nov), a two day Festive Green Fayre will be setting up camp in the Museum’s main hall where visitors can browse over 70 stalls offering environmentally friendly gifts and products such as recycled jewellery, clothes and Christmas cards, fair trade chocolate and snacks and ethical home wares.

Then, on Sunday 5 Dec at 2.30pm, the Museum will welcome TV presenter and eco-engineer Dick Strawbridge who will host a practical and fun introduction to environmentally friendly engineering. The free, interactive demonstration and talk will include top tips and ideas on how to become more environmentally friendly in everyday life.

Speaking about the workshop, Dick said: “I’m delighted to be hosting this event at the National Waterfront Museum. I’m going to be talking about all aspects of sustainable living and will be answering questions on everything! So if you can’t tell your Photovoltaics from your Umbellifers, or get confused on the best ways to be saving money on energy bills, come along, listen and ask.”

Dick was recently a finalist on Celebrity MasterChef and can be found presenting Scrapheap Challenge and Coast. He has been involved in a range of environmental programmes from Planet Mechanics on the National Geographic channel to the popular sustainable living and eco technology series It’s Not Easy Being Green - where Dick, along with his family, moved into a new home in Cornwall and attempted to live as green a life as possible, using renewable energy and environmentally friendly resources.

Visitors will also have the chance to buy Dick’s book – Practical Self Sufficiency, the complete guide to sustainable living – from the Museum’s shop and even have it signed by Dick himself from 3.30pm onwards.

But that’s not all - those popping into the Museum will also have the chance to see a Christmas Tree with a difference, designed and built (from scratch) by students from Swansea Metropolitan University.

The tree, made from recycled materials, is currently standing tall in the Main Hall and will be on display until Thursday 6 January 2011.

“We’ve got a fun-packed festive season for the whole family to enjoy this December,” said Head of Museum, Steph Mastoris. “Whether films, arts and crafts or unusual Christmas trees take your fancy, we’ve got something to give you a break from the hustle and bustle and wintery weather – so join us and experience Christmas at the Waterfront!”

And there’s more…visitors can also explore the wonders of Waterfront Winterland, situated just outside the Museum’s main entrance. For more details visit www.swanseachristmas.com

Festive Events

• 27 & 28 Nov: Festive Green Fayre (10am-4pm).

• 5 Dec: Eco-Engineering explained with Dick Strawbridge (2.30pm, book signing at 3.30pm).

• 11 & 12 Dec: Big Build, a new big scale engineering challenge using scrap materials to make a giant Christmas tree (1.30pm).

• 19-23 Dec: Christmas family film time (2.30pm).

• 27-31 Dec: Get Sparkly, drop-in workshop recycling wrapping paper and cards (1-4pm).

For further information please contact Marie Szymonski, Marketing Communications Officer on 01792 638970.

Admission to Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales sites is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Amgueddfa Cymru operates seven national museums across Wales.

• National Museum Cardiff

• St Fagans: National History Museum

• National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon

• Big Pit: National Coal Museum

• National Wool Museum, Dre-fach

• National Slate Museum, Llanberis

• National Waterfront Museum, Swansea