Day 2 at the Balmoral Show at the Eikon Centre and the crowds roll in
Look Who’s Joining the Refillution at the Balmoral Show.
Visitors to the Balmoral Show are being encouraged to join NI Water’s growing ‘Tap Refillution’ by choosing reusable water bottles and refilling from the tap.
The Tap House offers showgoers a chance to enjoy fresh, high-quality drinking water, learn more about how water is treated and tested, and pick up a free reusable bottle.
The initiative aims to tackle the estimated 420 million single-use plastic bottles used across Northern Ireland each year.
Since launching in 2019, NI Water’s Refillution campaign has distributed more than 50,000 reusable bottles, helping to reduce plastic pollution and protect waterways and marine life.
Visitors are invited to stop by stand EK101, refill, relax and play their part in cutting waste by choosing tap water over single-use plastics.
Find out more at:
www.niwater.com/refillution-join/
Pictured are Amelia, Caleb and Remi Gordon from Ballygowan showing their support for the campaign at NI Water’s Tap House stand in the Eikon Exhibition Centre.
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Local experts urge farming community to prioritise their own health at Balmoral Show – not just their animals’
A local farmer says he used to prioritise his cattle’s health over his own until an accident at his farm left him vulnerable to eye damage.
As Balmoral Show continues, Lewis Williamson from Scarva is sharing his story after a piece of metal shrapnel became embedded in his eye, just weeks before his wedding to fiancée Chloe Woods, a supervisor at Specsavers Newry.
While carrying out welding work on his farm, Lewis removed his protective mask, only for an unexpected spark to send the fragment into his eye.
Following a visit to his local Specsavers, the shrapnel was removed by optician director, Will Stevenson, using NI PEARS (Primary Eyecare Assessment and Referrals Services), and Lewis was able to return to the farm on the same day with prescribed eye drops to support his recovery.
Will Stevenson from Specsavers Newry explained; “The fragment was causing irritation, and if left untreated, could have led to further inflammation and complications.
“I was able to extract the piece of metal from Lewis’s eye using a sterile needle, reducing the risk of infection or long-term damage.
“We were very happy that we were able to help ensure Lewis could see Chloe walking down the aisle on their wedding day, and avoid red, irritated eyes in their wedding photos.”
Since the incident, Lewis has made his own health and safety a priority, consistently wearing protective eyewear and attends regular eye tests in-store.
At this year’s Show, which runs until Saturday 16th May at the Eikon, Balmoral Park, Specsavers will be on hand with free hearing screenings, sight simulators and a team of local experts, including their local Home Visits service, to raise awareness of the importance of eye and hearing health in farming environments, urging the agri-community to prioritise their own health alongside their animals.
Natalie Latham, store partner at Specsavers Lisburn commented; “Farming involves daily exposure to airborne debris such as grass, stones, metal fragments and dust, often travelling at high speed.
“Without proper protection, these can cause serious eye injuries from minor scratches to permanent vision damage.
“There is also exposure to chemicals such as pesticides, fertilisers and cleaning agents, and working with animals and organic materials which can carry bacteria.
“Prevention is always the best approach, and our range of prescription safety glasses and goggles, available through our 2 for 1 offer can help agricultural workers access protection easily.
“It is equally important that people know local opticians, like Specsavers, can provide immediate care or onward referral if needed.”
There are 24 locally owned and run Specsavers stores in towns and cities across Northern Ireland, with Home Visits teams covering the entire region for customers who are unable to attend a store in person.
Visitors can find Specsavers at stand EK69 in the Eikon Shopping Village throughout the Balmoral Show.
For tickets, visit:
and to find your nearest Specsavers store, visit specsavers.co.uk.
