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Eden Project Launches UK‑Wide Nature and Wellbeing Programme — Full Details

What has been announced?

The Eden Project — the world‑famous ecological education charity based in Cornwall — has officially launched a nationwide nature connection and wellbeing initiative aimed at helping people reconnect with nature, boost health and wellbeing, and take part in local nature recovery activities across the UK. (edenproject.com)

The programme is supported by funding from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund as part of Eden’s 25th‑anniversary activities. (edenproject.com)

Programme Overview

Main Goal

The programme — commonly referred to as Nature Connections or Nature: Connection and Recovery — seeks to:

Encourage nature‑based activities that support physical and mental wellbeing.
Equip local communities with skills and confidence to protect and enhance natural spaces.
Create a lasting legacy of trained nature facilitators and “community nature guardians” who help look after local environments. (edenproject.com)

Activities are designed to help people connect with nature in ways that benefit their health, learning and resilience. (edenproject.com)

Where It Will Run (Nationwide)

The programme is UK‑wide, with initial delivery beginning early in the New Year in several key areas including:

St Austell and Cornwall (home of the Eden Project),
Morecambe in north‑west England,
Liverpool in the north‑west,
…and future activities to follow in Dundee, Belfast, and Newport (Wales) later in the year. (edenproject.com)

This reflects Eden’s aim to deliver participatory nature and wellbeing opportunities in urban, rural and coastal settings across regions of the UK. (edenproject.com)

What the Programme Includes

At its core, the programme brings community‑focused nature engagement to life through a range of free or low‑barrier activities, such as:

Therapeutic & Skills Activities

Therapeutic horticulture sessions and gardening designed to support wellbeing and mental health.
Weekly walking groups to increase physical activity and social connection.
Creative workshops and nature experiences that foster joy, learning and new skills.
These activities are available for people of all ages — from toddlers to older adults. (edenproject.com)

Photography & Creative Engagement

Courses like nature‑based photography help participants notice and document nature around them, while improving social connections and creative skills as part of the wellbeing focus. (edenproject.com)

Family & Inter‑Generational Offers

Early‑years activities for babies, toddlers and families,
Events and experiences aimed at young people under 25 to strengthen their connection to nature. (edenproject.com)

Health Partnerships

Importantly, many activities integrate with social prescribing — meaning local health professionals (GPs, social prescribers) can refer people directly to nature‑based sessions known to improve wellbeing, reduce stress, and boost confidence. (edenproject.com)

Why It Matters — Health, Nature & Community

Wellbeing Benefits

There is growing evidence that spending time in nature can reduce stress, improve mood, increase physical activity and foster social connection. The Eden Project’s programme brings these benefits directly into local communities, not just at its Cornwall site. (Facebook)

Nature Recovery & Local Stewardship

The programme isn’t just about individual wellbeing — it also aims to restore and regenerate natural spaces where people live, giving communities agency in nature protection and climate action. (edenproject.com)

Community Empowerment

By training facilitators and community nature guardians, Eden hopes the work will continue beyond the initial funding period, creating lasting local networks dedicated to nature and health. (edenproject.com)

Voices & Support

National Lottery Community Fund:
Liz Watchorn, Head of Funding for the Climate Action Fund, said the programme will support those most impacted by climate change and health inequalities, and help people that might otherwise struggle to access green spaces. (edenproject.com)

Eden Project Team:
Programme leaders emphasise the “hopeful” nature of activities like sowing seeds, gardening and community nature projects, which they see as ways for local residents to tackle climate change while improving personal wellbeing. (edenproject.com)

Summary

Aspect	Details
Programme name	Nature: Connection and Recovery / Nature Connections
Lead organisation	Eden Project (Cornwall‑based ecological charity)
Funded by	National Lottery Community Fund – Climate Action Fund
Focus	Health, wellbeing, nature engagement, nature recovery
Delivery areas	Cornwall, Morecambe, Liverpool, Dundee, Belfast, Newport, and others to follow
Key activities	Gardening therapy, walking groups, creative nature workshops, photography & youth activities
Health integration	Supports social prescribing referrals

Final Take

The Eden Project’s nationwide nature and wellbeing programme marks a big step in taking the health benefits of nature beyond the Cornwall site and into everyday life for communities across the UK. By blending nature engagement with health, education and local empowerment, it aims to transform both people’s wellbeing and the natural spaces around them — building resilience for people and planet alike. (edenproject.com)

Here’s a case‑study and commentary‑style report on the Eden Project’s new nationwide Nature and Wellbeing programme — including specific examples of activities, partnerships and responses from participants and experts. (Eden Project)

Eden Project Launches Nationwide UK Nature and Wellbeing Programme — Case Studies & Comments

Overview

In December 2025, the Eden Project — the major educational and ecological charity based in Cornwall — unveiled a three‑year Nature: Connection and Recovery initiative funded by more than £2 million from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund. The programme aims to combat the UK’s nature depletion while tackling health inequalities and boosting wellbeing by helping communities connect with nature and take climate‑positive action where they live. (Eden Project)

Case Study 1: Cornwall — Nature Connection Activities in Eden’s Home Community

Therapeutic Horticulture & Wellbeing Sessions

At Eden’s Cornwall site, the programme runs a suite of nature‑based activities intended to support physical and mental wellbeing, such as:

Gardening and therapeutic horticulture sessions designed to lift spirits and build confidence.
Weekly walking groups organised for people of all ages to increase physical activity, social connectivity and emotional resilience.
Early‑years and family nature activities including forest school‑style outdoor clubs and creative workshops. (Eden Project)

These activities are also integrated into social prescribing pathways, meaning healthcare professionals can refer patients to nature‑based programmes shown to support recovery and general wellbeing. (Eden Project)

Comment: Participants have reported that structured nature interactions — even simple gardening tasks — can reduce stress and strengthen community connection, particularly when they feel supported by skilled facilitators.

Case Study 2: Morecambe, Liverpool & Other UK Centres

Multi‑Community Rollout

The programme extends beyond Cornwall to a series of urban, coastal and post‑industrial areas across the UK, with initial delivery planned for St Austell (Cornwall), Morecambe (North West England), and Liverpool, and later in Dundee, Belfast and Newport. (Eden Project)

In these areas, activities will vary but include:

Nature recovery and regeneration projects that invite people to restore natural spaces near where they live.
Food growing and gardening collaborations that combine climate action with improving local biodiversity.
Art‑based nature engagement created to help people express their connection to the environment in creative ways. (Eden Project)

Comment: The focus on community‑driven activity, rather than top‑down instruction, reflects Eden’s intent that local people feel ownership and pride in their environment — a key factor in long‑term behavioural change.

Partnerships & Support Structure

Cross‑Sector Collaboration

The programme is delivered with strategic partners including:

Gwent, Ulster, Lancashire and Scottish Wildlife Trusts — bringing deep conservation experience to local delivery.
Intelligent Health — supporting physical activity and wellbeing frameworks.
Ashken Family Foundation — providing philanthropic backing to broaden reach. (Eden Project)

These partnerships help tailor local nature‑connection projects to regional contexts, ensuring that coastal, rural and urban settings have relevant activities.

Voices, Reactions & Expert Commentary

Participant Perspectives

People involved in early engagements — such as nature‑connection photography workshops or community gardening — describe the sessions as uplifting and grounding: a way to combine gentle activity with social interaction. A local participant featured in launch coverage noted the hopeful nature of sowing seeds and working with others to improve spaces near home, highlighting both emotional and environmental benefits. (CornishStuff)

Expert Comments

Health & Nature Connection Research:
Scientific evidence shows that spending as little as two hours a week in nature can significantly improve physical and mental wellbeing — supporting the programme’s core premise. (Eden Project)

Eden Project Leadership:
Eden’s Head of Nature Connections has framed the programme as a dual benefit initiative: addressing climate challenges while strengthening community health — a broad‑based approach that goes beyond traditional conservation projects. (Eden Project)

Public Health Professionals:
Local health practitioners involved in social prescribing emphasise that sustained, structured exposure to green spaces through organised programmes can be more effective in managing anxiety and isolation than unstructured outdoor time.

Summary of Key Elements

Element	Details / Significance
Programme name	Nature: Connection and Recovery
Funding	£2 million+ from National Lottery Community Fund
Duration	3 years
Core focus	Mental & physical wellbeing, nature connection, local climate action
Activity types	Therapeutic horticulture, walks, creative workshops, food growing
Partners	Wildlife Trusts, Intelligent Health, Ashken Family Foundation
Areas targeted	Cornwall, Morecambe, Liverpool, Dundee, Belfast, Newport
Innovative aspect	Integration with social prescribing pathways

Overall Commentary

The Eden Project’s new Nature and Wellbeing programme represents a significant evolution in community‑focused ecological engagement in the UK. Rather than purely showcasing biodiversity, it places people’s health and agency at the centre of environmental activity — encouraging participants to take energy from nature and give back by helping restore local habitats. (Eden Project)

For communities that face higher levels of health inequality and reduced access to green spaces, the initiative is both a restorative social intervention and an environmental strategy — blending wellbeing benefits with practical nature recovery efforts, and laying the groundwork for long‑term community stewardship. (Eden Project)