A large-scale event bringing together green businesses will be held for the first time in North East England this September.

The Big Eco Show will showcase those businesses operating in the low-carbon and climate resilient economy on Wednesday 19 September at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

The free-to-attend show is being held by the South Tyne and Wear Branch of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in partnership with Daisy Green Media and Events, ClimateNE and bdaily.

It aims to not only showcase and celebrate businesses in the field, but will also provide information and advice for those wanting to take steps to become more green and eco-friendly.

Branch Chairman Jim Storey said

North East businesses are bringing their considerable acumen and entrepreneurial skills to bear and are developing and exploiting the genuine commercial opportunities that tackling and responding to climate change can present.

This event will prove to be a fantastic way to showcase the fantastic activity taking place here in North East England while providing advice, information and inspiration for others.

The Big Eco Show will feature an exhibition showcasing businesses from key sectors, including technology, construction, energy, transport, finance, and travel and tourism. There will also be a range of key note speakers and workshops throughout the day, as well as networking sessions hosted by ClimateNE.

A ‘Seriously Speaking’ debate, facilitated by bdaily, will also be filmed and streamed online, and attendees will also get the opportunity to test drive electric vehicles.

The confirmed sponsor to date is tadea.

For more information, including sponsorship, exhibition details and media enquiries, please contact Nicola Alexander on (0191) 490 1654 or email nicola@daisygreenmagazine.co.uk

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There is a plethora of the best genuinely organic and natural beauty brands, coupled with superb customer service; speedy FREE postage and packing for orders over £10, a really efficient and extensive sample service and expert one-to-one advice via phone or email.

Lucy Rose was named the ‘Best Retail Website 2011’ in the Natural Health Magazine awards and was also recently picked by Jacqueline Gold as one of her WOW winners which celebrate women in business.

One lucky reader can win a £50 Lucy Rose Gift Voucher.

To enter this fabulous free competition, simply pop your information into the form below before Sunday 1 July 2012

Terms and conditions of entry

To enter the competition and be added to the Lucy Rose mailing list:

Please type your name and email address into the box provided below.
 
To enter the competition but not be added to the Lucy Rose mailing list:

If you do not wish to receive the Lucy Rose e-newsletter but want to enter the competition, please type your name and email address into the box provided below.

On entering this competition you will be sent an email which provides a link to confirm your competition entry. Once you have clicked on the link, your entry is confirmed. Good luck!

On entering this FREE reader giveaway, EVERYONE that enters will be automatically registered to receive an e-newsletter from Daisy Green Magazine from which you can unsubscribe at any time.

The winner will be contacted by the Daisy Green team and asked to confirm their postal address and availability for this prize. Once confirmed, the winner’s name will be published on the winner’s page.

Thanks for entering and good luck!

Want to hear about more about our great competitions? Follow us on twitter @DaisyCompEditor and @DaisyGreenDeals

The Daisy team hit the road again and this time the destination was Leeds.

Our home for the night was the pioneering low-carbon development, Greenhouse Leeds, which if you could cut it in two, would have sustainable and green running through it’s core.

The development includes 166 apartments, 13,000 sq ft of office space, Greenspace – the UK’s greenest conferencing and events centres, as well as being an apart-hotel. Plus, don’t worry about getting lost the huge wind turbines on the roof will guide you there!

The whole development is the brain child of Citu who discovered Shaftesbury House, with its history dating back to 1938 when it was used as a lodging house for around 500 seasonal workers in the area. From locating the beautiful Shaftesbury House to the opening of the Greenhouse took six years and it was definitely worth the wait.

The entrance/reception 

Quite unassuming with the feel of a residential property rather than a hotel but it works well, looking clean and inviting. Overhead exposed pipework is labelled to explain each pipe’s different use and the walls are donned with images of the building history which was great to see.

The original opening plaque and the new plaque are displayed side by side showing the synergy of past and present.

Daisy rating: modern, unsual and inviting 4/5

Our apartment

Firstly, a nod to the numbers on the doors – made from recycled plastic. Indeed, every little detail seems to have been considered which in turn leads to promoting an environmentally responsible lifestyle. Appliances were eco-rated and floors and worktops were made from sustainable bamboo.

The team occupied a three bedroomed penthouse suite which included a lounge/kitchen, three bedrooms (one with en-suite), bathroom and a huge corner balcony overlooking Leeds stunning city centre.

Each of these is reviewed in more detail, below:

The living room/kitchen

Oozes minimalist charm and filled with eco or UK made products.  This would be a great place to host a party as the room opens out onto the vast corner balcony, you have to see it to believe it (in fact one of the Daisy team has booked it for their 21st birthday).

Huge glazed doors pull back to truly make the most of this outside space, encouraging the occupants to take in the magnificent view. Sadly we didn’t have the weather to really appreciate this feature but we’re sure summer residents will live with the doors open. The welcome basket was a nice touch too, with local produce galore.

Daisy rating, a stunning 5/5

The bedrooms

Bedroom 1, with en suite

First impressions are great but we came to the conclusion that this room layout was designed by a man! The dressing table is long and well sited, but alas no sockets in sight for any electrical appliances. The bed is a tad too low to be sitting on for makeup application and hair styling too. I must admit I like a low bed so this was great for me however, anyone with mobility issues may find it testing.

En suite: a really lovely room which had everything needed for a good shower, minimalist again but very stylish.

Bedroom 2

Adjacent to bedroom 1; this room opens up onto the balcony which is an absolutely fabulous feature. The bed in this room is a small double and comfortably sleeps two however, there is lots of room for a big bed so the room isn’t crowded.

Bedroom 3 

Another lovely sized double room and a third double bed making this the perfect apartment for a trio of couples or perhaps parents with two teenage children, they’d find it difficult to argue over bedrooms 2 and 3!

Daisy rating: a versatile and comfortable 4/5

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The rest of the complex

All of the communal areas of the development were extremely well thought out  with obvious attention to detail. This development is truly a community and not just a place to reside.

We loved the honesty shop. We popped in at nearly midnight, feeling like naughty school girls selecting our sweets and being trusted to leave our money in return (such a rare trait in this day and age).

We didn’t get time to try out the free vintage bike hire club, the deli or the gym but had little peeks at them whilst walking through the central courtyard, which we imagine would be a lovely hub in good weather.

Daisy rating: a clean, well executed and thoughtful development 5/5

Overall impression

This is a great alternative to a hotel and a few small tweaks would make it perfect, with so many other apartments available to rent we’re sure you could find one to suit your needs exactly e.g. maybe single beds or cots provided for little ones.

So, whether it’s a weekend break in Leeds, or a short business trip, we would definitely recommend that you try out the Greenhouse.

Overall Daisy rating: a more private hotel alternative offering a bit more versatility & green-thinking 4.5/5

For more information or bookings contact Anna at aparthotel@greenhouseleeds.co.uk or call 07977 238 108

Our penthouse room was £300 per night (£50/person).

Daisy Green magazine have another great Deal of the Day give-away to offer you.

If you are already subscribed to receive our Deal of the Day newsletter, you have been automatically entered into the draw to win this fab prize but if not, you can sign up now!

Remember to tell all your friends about Daisy’s Deal of the Day too!

Today, we’re offering one lucky reader the chance to win:

• A bottle of Green People hydrating firming serum worth £11.95
• A shea butter and lime natural lip balm from Pure Thoughts worth £2.95 and
• A fruit extract exfoliator scrub up from Angela Langford worth £15.80. Total prize worth £30.70.

To enter this fabulous free competition, simply pop your information into the form below before Sunday 1 July 2012.

Terms and conditions of entry

To enter the competition and be added to our mailing list:

Please type your name and email address into the box provided below.
To enter the competition but not be added to the Daisy Green’s  mailing list:If you do not wish to receive the Daisy Green’s e-newsletter but want to enter the competition, please type your name and email address into the box provided below.
On entering this competition you will be sent an email which provides a link to confirm your competition entry. Once you have clicked on the link, your entry is confirmed. Good luck!

The winner will be contacted by the Daisy Green team and asked to confirm their postal address and availability for this prize. Once confirmed, the winner’s name will be published on the winner’s page

Thanks for entering and good luck!

Want to hear about more about our great competitions? Follow us on twitter @DaisyCompEditor and @DaisyGreenDeals

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As the hosepipe ban takes hold across the UK, the Environment Secretary Caroline Spellman has suggested that future homes should be designed to allow people to re-use “grey water” from baths and showers to flush the toilet or water the garden.

Now, for some of us, this might seem like a bit of a stretch but, for others, this is just scratching the surface of the things we can do to be greener at home.

Tetra Pak and Do The Green Thing recently asked Brits to share the things that they do to go the extra mile and live a greener life, with some interesting and sometimes unusual results!

For those looking for some inspiration this summer, here are some of the top ideas we thought worth sharing:

1.  Cooking fish in tin foil using the heat from a car engine
2.  Using the water you’ve cooked with – e.g. pasta – to water your plants
3.  Brewing your own beer
4.  Reusing the milk you cook with to make a cup of tea
5.  Using household items like beer, egg, vinegar rather than shampoo
6.  Dressing in the dark to save electricity
7.  Showering with a friend!
8.  Cleaning your house with vinegar
9.  Using free colourful newspapers and magazines as wrapping paper
10.  Upcycle rubbish and unwanted items into presents

For more information about how you can Do Your Own Green Thing visit tetrapakrecycling.co.uk and Do The Green Thing

There is such a vast arrange of things to do in Edinburgh! Filled with castles, breweries, restaurants and parks, this city is definitely one to visit.

The first place that you should plan to visit, however, is the fabulous Edinburgh Castle that sits on top of the largest hill in the city.

Look out for the Royal Palace (built in 1617), where the Stone of Destiny and the Scottish Crown Jewels are kept. If you want to experience something interesting, then stick around until 1pm, when the gun is fired.

Staying near the Edinburgh Castle can be such a special and authentic experience, but if you are a history and castles fan there are also many other castles that you should visit including:

Craigmillar Castle is one of Edinburgh’s and Scotland’s most well-maintained castle. It was built in 1400s and this castle is around 3 miles or so from the city centre. Mary Queen of Scots had retreated here and made it a peaceful and quiet place to live.

Tantallon Castle is located on top of a cliff high above the sea. It was a seat for Douglas Earls of Angus, however now it is used for a location of “Shoebox Zoo” – a children’s series.

Blackness Castle is exactly what this name suggests. It was designed to be more like a prison rather than a peaceful castle. You can go up to the top of the tower and see the reason behind why this castle was a brilliant place to prepare for attack.

Lauriston Castle has 30 acres of beautiful grounds. There are lovely woodland walks around the castle and there is also an award winning Japanese garden. The previous (and last ones) had redecorated the castle to have an Edwardian style.

Dirleton Castle just east of Edinburgh lies this amazing castle. The architecture will make your jaw drop as it has dated back to over 700 years. The Herbaceous border in the castle’s gardens is now in the Guinness World Book of Records, which is something you should definitely see if you are planning to visit here.

If you could choose what season you are visiting the capital of Scotland, the best one would be Summer without any doubt, although cheap hotels and apartments in Edinburgh may be a little more difficult to find at this time; the weather will for sure make you enjoy the city much more than if you go in rainy Scottish Winter.

Sponsored post

Solve your gift dilemma with one of Jonny’s Sister’s personalised products.

Nestling in the hills on the Dorset/Somerset borders, they have a wonderful range of handmade gifts. You will be spoilt for choice between letter soaps, letter bunting, wooden letters, personalised date towels, hand-painted, personalised enamel tins and lots more.

Their award winning Love Letters (letter shaped cushions) come in a choice of fabrics with contrasting piping and in sizes right up to a metre high! All hand-made locally, they make the most wonderful unique and personal present for babies and christenings right through to weddings and anniversaries.

For any occasion that deserves something even more special there is a wonderful range of luxury love letters in 100% Irish linen that make the most perfect gift.

Jonny’s Sister are offering all Daisy Green readers an exclusive 15% discount; just type in code: DG6 at checkout on jonnyssister.co.uk until 30 June 2012. Alternatively call 01935 873186 to place an order over the phone.

Thanks to Jonny’s Sister we also have 3 lovely prizes to give away.

First prize is a hand painted, personalised enamel bucket that comes with a lid. Perfect for that country kitchen look worth £37.

Second prize is a pair of hand embroidered on French Linen egg cosies worth £19. A real luxury!

Third prize is 4 Letter Soaps in either pink with hearts embedded in or turquoise with stars embedded in them worth £16. These soaps are SLS and Parabens free and safe for children.

To enter this fabulous free competition, simply pop your information into the form below before Sunday 1 July 2012

Terms and conditions of entry

To enter the competition and be added to the Jonny’s Sister mailing list:
Please type your name and email address into the box provided below. To enter the competition but not be added to the Jonny’s Sister mailing list:If you do not wish to receive the Jonny’s Sister e-newsletter but want to enter the competition, please type your name and email address into the box provided below.
On entering this competition you will be sent an email which provides a link to confirm your competition entry. Once you have clicked on the link, your entry is confirmed. Good luck!

On entering this FREE reader giveaway, EVERYONE that enters will be automatically registered to receive an e-newsletter from Daisy Green Magazine from which you can unsubscribe at any time.

The winner will be contacted by the Daisy Green team and asked to confirm their postal address and availability for this prize. Once confirmed, the winner’s name will be published on the winner’s page.

Thanks for entering and good luck!

Want to hear about more about our great competitions? Follow us on twitter @DaisyCompEditor and @DaisyGreenDeals

Read more about Jonny’s Sister on Daisy Green Magazine

Kutuu is a jewellery and gifts brand created by Hannah Salomon and based in North Wales.

Kutuu are giving 3 lucky Daisy Green readers the chance to win a pewter trinket dish with the phrase “live life to the fullest, love with all your heart and laugh often” as well as a “live love laugh” keyring. The pewter dish retails at £25 and keyring retails at £14, a total value of £39 for each prize.

To enter this fabulous free competition, simply pop your information into the form below before Sunday 1 July 2012

Terms and conditions of entry

To enter the competition and be added to the Kutuu mailing list:

Please type your name and email address into the box provided below.

To enter the competition but not be added to the Kutuu mailing list:

If you do not wish to receive the Kutuu e-newsletter but want to enter the competition, please type your name and email address into the box provided below.

On entering this competition you will be sent an email which provides a link to confirm your competition entry. Once you have clicked on the link, your entry is confirmed. Good luck!

On entering this FREE reader giveaway, EVERYONE that enters will be automatically registered to receive an e-newsletter from Daisy Green Magazine from which you can unsubscribe at any time.

The winner will be contacted by the Daisy Green team and asked to confirm their postal address and availability for this prize. Once confirmed, the winner’s name will be published on the winner’s page.

Thanks for entering and good luck!

Want to hear about more about our great competitions? Follow us on twitter @DaisyCompEditor and @DaisyGreenDeals

Lola wears Owleyes Postage Stamp necklace & vintage boater

A new fashion brand with an environmentally friendly ethos has recently launched, from a small home studio in North East England.

Owleyes, run singlehandedly by Fine Art graduate Chloe Booth, is a new company, specialising in unique one-of-a-kind jewellery and vintage accessories.

Chloe uses reclaimed and recycled objects and lets the materials themselves influence her design process, inspiring her to transform them into striking and unusual pieces that add quirkiness and style to any outfit.

“I’ve always loved creating new and beautiful things out of what some might see as rubbish. Owleyes is upcycling at it’s best. All my pieces are one-offs, so when you wear one you know it really is unique.”

The fashion industry is a huge contributor to environmental issues; with 1 million tonnes of textiles being thrown away in the UK alone every year, but a new wave of sustainable fashion designers are bucking mass produced throwaway trends and finding resourceful new ways to mix up our wardrobes.

Many current fashion trends use old ideas, renewed with a contemporary outlook, so it seems natural that we should try and renew the materials we use too

Sustainable fashion has become a personal choice for many women, and nowadays it is important for buyers to be able to trust the provenance of their purchases.

One of the new Owleyes designs features reclaimed seed containers, transformed into pendants that hold a secret significance for those who buy them. The ‘Message In A Bottle’ necklaces are limited in number, and each pendant contains its own individual quote, carefully chosen to send a positive and uplifting message.

Another popular Owleyes collection uses antique and vintage postage stamps, and transforms them into pieces of wearable art jewellery.

All pieces are available to purchase in the recently launched Owleyes online shop owleyesmarket.com alongside an ever-changing collection of vintage and retro accessories and homewares, sourced by Chloe from around the UK and Europe.

Get 10% off at Owleyes

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Based in Somerset, Jonny’s Sister specialises in personalised gifts for both children and adults.

Their products include their award winning Love Letters which are available in a wide range of both printed and woven fabrics. They come in three sizes including one at a staggering 1 metre high with a real WOW factor!

They also make personalised Letter Bunting which is perfect for children’s bedrooms, nurseries and for parties.

For weddings, anniversaries or any occasion that deserves something special there’s a wonderful range of Luxury Love Letters in 100% Irish Linen that make the perfect gift.

The most recent addition to their product range is a selection of personalised enamelware. Choose from 3 sizes of tins or a bucket with lid.

Soon to be added is a smokey blue cake tin and cream enamel pet bowls all personalised by local signwriters with names or messages of your choice. Perfect for birthdays, anniversaries or as a treat for yourself.

Jonny’s Sister is offering all Daisy Green subscribers a 15% discount off their product range. Just code: DG6 at checkout on jonnyssister.co.uk until 30 June 2012. Visit jonnyssister.co.uk.

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Win a handmade personalised gift from Jonny’s Sister and get 15% off

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