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National Marine Aquarium exploring the shore during February Half Term
14th February 2019
During February half-term, the National Marine Aquarium (NMA) in Plymouth will be exploring the shore with their fun family theme “Sea the Difference”.
Taking place from Saturday 16 to Sunday 24 February, the NMA will be inviting all who visit to celebrate the wonderful Ocean animals & habitats found in UK waters through a whole host of activities, shows and workshops.
Families will be able to take part in an interactive trail around the Aquarium focusing on a plastic bottle’s journey if it ends up in the Ocean in the UK. At the end of the trail visitors will be able to meet the NMA’s brand new life sized model of a Polar Bear. Made entirely from single use plastic this stunning sculpture was made by designers commissioned by Plymouth Waterfront Partnership to showcase where our plastic can end up if not reduced, reused or recycled.
As well as this, not only will visitors be able to view the Aquarium’s stunning local seas exhibits (the largest native seas exhibit in the UK), but the NMA will be hosting guest Ocean organisations in their famous Eddystone Reef exhibit to showcase the amazing work that is happening in marine conservation in the UK. Fellow conservation organisations such as RSPB, Marine Conservation Society and Devon Wildlife Trust and many more will join the NMA’s own conservation education teams for the week.
The NMA’s Public Engagement Coordinator and organiser of their Sea the Difference Half Term event, Helen Gowans said: "Here at the NMA we are really excited for our February half term ‘Sea the Difference: Explore the Shore’ event. During this week, we will be joined by some amazing organisations who will be showcasing their work and helping us engage our visitors in Ocean conservation.
"We want to show our visitors that there is a strong network of collaborative marine conservation organisations all working together to conserve our precious seas. This year we will be focusing on ‘Explore the Shore’, celebrating the place most of us meet the ocean, and the incredible creatures that call it home.”
Coral Smith, Marine Education Officer at Devon Wildlife Trust/Wembury Marine Centre said: “We are really looking forward to being part of Sea the Difference again this half term, with lots of other fab organisations, showcasing and celebrating all the amazing marine conservation and education work that goes on in and around Britain’s Ocean City.”
Jules Agate, from the Marine Conservation Society added: “We are happy to once again be supporting the excellent Sea the Difference event at the NMA. We’ll be running activities for children (and big children!) at our space in this fantastic venue. We love coming here to see all the creatures, chat to the many keen and interested visitors and catch up with our friends, colleagues and volunteers from other organisations. Come along too, for an excellent half term day out with a difference!”
All day tickets to the Aquarium come with a complimentary pass to return as much as you like for 12 months.
As an Ocean Conservation Charity, the NMA relies on visitor funds and donations to continue its mission to connect people with our Ocean. For more information, to book tickets and learn more about how you can support the NMA, visit their website.