Remy the Whale is proudly on display at Elmsleigh

Remy the Whale with a very important tale 

A giant whale made entirely from recycled Christmas waste is proudly on display inside the Elmsleigh Centre in Staines-upon-Thames — carrying an important message from local children about protecting our oceans and reducing plastic pollution.

“Remy the Whale” was created by the pupils of Hawkedale Primary School through the EcoActio – For the Future environmental education programme founded by Emma Osterbery.

Made from discarded Christmas wrapping paper, packaging, plastics, ribbons, and festive waste materials collected by the children and their families, Remy was designed to help young people understand the growing global waste crisis and the devastating impact plastic pollution is having on marine life.

The children physically collected, sorted, studied, and reused their own festive rubbish — transforming waste into a giant piece of environmental art that now stands as a symbol of education, hope, and change.

But Remy is far more than just a whale sculpture.

The name “REMY” was chosen by the children themselves and stands for:

R – Recycle

E – Education

M – Make a Difference

Y – You Can Make the Change

The name represents the very message the children wanted adults and communities to hear — that humans must rethink waste, reduce plastic pollution, and take responsibility for protecting the future of our planet.

Emma Osterbery, founder of EcoActio, said:

“The children didn’t just learn about recycling — they lived it.

They transformed rubbish into something meaningful, powerful, and impossible to ignore. Remy represents hope, responsibility, and the belief that even small hands can create enormous waves of change.”

Now displayed in the former Claire’s Accessories unit inside the Elmsleigh Centre, Remy is helping to promote a growing public petition calling for the ban of single-use plastic drinks bottles in school canteens.

Visitors are encouraged to scan the QR code beside Remy and sign the petition to support reducing unnecessary plastic waste in schools and help protect oceans and marine wildlife for future generations.

UK Parliament Petition – Ban Single-Use Plastic Drinks Bottles in Schools

The campaign highlights what many children themselves are beginning to question:

“How can we teach young people about ocean protection and sustainability while continuing to sell single-use plastic bottles in the very places they learn?”

Humpback whales, the species Remy represents, are listed on the IUCN Red List and continue to face threats from plastic pollution, climate change, entanglement, and habitat destruction.

The public is invited to visit Remy at the Elmsleigh Centre in Staines and help support the children’s message that education, recycling, and community action can help create a healthier future for both people and planet.

Remy will be on display until further notice.

It will be in this unit until it is let again.