Teams of homeless champions laced up their boots and strapped on their shinpads on Tuesday (December 15) for the first-ever football matches played at Eden.

The world’s biggest greenhouses provided a stunning backdrop for a tournament with a difference, played out between teams of people who have completed the project’s nine-week Great Grass programme.

The programme was run at Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City, Bristol Rovers and Bristol City and the players at Eden were the first people to take part.

Great Grass aims to improve participants’ playing and coaching skills and also teach them about other aspects of the football business such as catering, ticketing, grounds maintenance, marketing and physiotherapy.

Everyone on the courses has gained a football coaching qualification and Cisco Networking Academy accredited NVQ level 2 award.

Theo Pope, who completed the course at Plymouth Argyle and was playing for their team at Eden, said: “Great Grass has been amazing, I’ve met some great people and learned new skills. It’s been a good journey, most definitely a positive experience and I’m happy to be one of the first people to play football at Eden.”

Richard McBride, who was also on the Plymouth Great Grass course, said: “I found Great Grass really rewarding. I’m football crazy so it was great learning at Argyle. As an electrician, the IT qualification I’ve got from the course will hopefully help me develop professionally.”

Jodie Giles, Eden’s Great Day Out Programme Manager, said: “It was a brilliant day and a real celebration of the achievement of all the people who have taken part in Great Grass so far. There was a really positive atmosphere and it brought people together with common goals. We look forward to hosting more events like this in the future.”

The matches were four-a-side and played in a league format with Exeter’s team emerging eventual winners, a combined Bristol side coming second and Plymouth’s representatives bringing up the rear, albeit with some impressive performances. Outside the Great Grass competition, an Eden Project staff squad also played each team, winning every game with just one goal conceded. The games were staged on an arena dubbed “Wembl-Eden” for the day.

The first courses have been run at the four clubs but there are plans to expand the programme to more clubs in the future. At least 195 people are taking part in the first year, with many more predicted to attend in the future.

As well as gaining practical skills, Great Grass aims to help its participants grow in confidence, live a more structured life and play a more active role in their communities.

Great Grass is a collaboration between the Eden Project, the four football clubs, the Football League Trust, Cisco Systems and Comic Relief to help homeless young people gain the skills and confidence to improve their lives.

(For a bit of fun, every Friday our Plant Records Manager, Chris Bisson, the guy who maintains all the recorded information on our plant collections, will do a regular blog slot where he recommends his favourite “plant records” – that is, songs that are in some way linked to a plant. (Do you see what we did there?) )

‘Buddy Holly’ Weezer (1994)

An appropriately seasonal theme this week! There about 600 species of the genus Holly worldwide, but the one primarily associated with Yule is Ilex aquifolium L. with its evergreen glossy spiky leaves and vivid red berries prominent through the cold winter months.   Originally sacred to Druids, a symbol of protection and fertility, the holly was later appropriated by Christianity.

Spike Jonze directed the memorable video for this 1994 track by Weezer, the California alt rockers fronted by enigmatic Rivers Cuomo, who have just released their seventh album ‘Raditude’.

Chris Bisson – Plant Records Manager  – Eden Project

The beauty of winter veg is that it gives you something to harvest through the depths and darks of the winter months. Read on for hints and tips on what you can be growing now!

• “Cut and come again” winter salad leaves like rocket, mustards and oriental leaf salads

Sow a 5cm width row of seeds and use them when they’re just big enough to harvest. The lettuces might need some protection from the cold, but most other leaves should be fine.  They can keep going all throughout the winter. “Cut and come again” salad mixes have become really popular – within 3-4 weeks you can have something to harvest. And you can sow all year round.

• Weeds, weeds, weeds

Don’t dig up your dandelions – harvest and eat them! Add something different  to a mixed salad – dandelions, chickweed, fat hen, different types of sorrel and shepherd’s purse all make unusual ingredients. But remember, be careful to only eat what you know, and to only eat a small amount, some  weeds have chemicals in which you can’t eat in large quantities.

• Chard, chicory, endives

Buy these from a nursery as it’s too late to plant seeds. Rainbow chard makes a wonderful ornamental crop too.

• Peas and beans

It’s a perfect time to get your broad beans in the ground. And some of the autumn varieties of peas, like Feltham First and Douce Provence, are really good ones for growing this time of year. They might need a bit of protection from the weather and hungry mice.

• Garlic and onions (from sets)

Buy specific autumn onion varieties – and harvest in the summer. Pop your onion sets in the ground four inches apart – the same with garlic. The only thing you’ve got to be a little careful with is to plant them the right way up and keep an eye out for hungry birds!

Ever fancied taking up the ice sport curling? Why not come down to the Eden Project this winter and try it out on our Ice Rink.

Watch this report by ITV News (The Westcountry Tonight)

Above, from Left to right, Tim Smit, Peter Sammonds, Presenter Mike Williams, John Sauven and Vicky Pope.

Eden played its part in the debate surrounding the forthcoming Copenhagen climate conference yesterday (Thursday December 3) by hosting a landmark discussion between some of the world’s top environmental thinkers for the BBC World Service’s One Planet programme.

The panel in the Mediterranean Biome featured Tim Smit, chief executive of Eden, Dr Vicky Pope, head of climate change advice at the Met Office, Professor Peter Sammonds of University College London, John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK and the debate was chaired by One Planet presenter Mike Williams.

Chinese and American contributions came from Changhua Wu, the Greater China director of the Climate Group, and Nigel Purvis, founder and president of Climate Advisers, respectively, and Yvo de Boer, the convener of the Copenhagen conference was interviewed, admitting that he is losing sleep over the organisation of the event. Hammer Simwinga, a Zambian agronomist, also contributed, giving the discussion an African point of view.

A diverse range of subjects were covered, including the possibility of Copenhagen delegates brokering a meaningful deal, rising populations and their impact on the resources and the climate and the consequences of the recent leaked e-mail scandal.

An enthusiastic and knowledgable audience added to the debate, with a notable contribution coming from a student from Poltair School who said he wanted to save the rainforests for the sake of his children’s generation, and from members of the Eden team.

The programme is due to be broadcast on Saturday December 5, the eve of the Copenhagen summit, between 6pm and 7pm on the BBC world Service. To listen, visit www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice and if you miss the show you’ll be able to download a podcast afterwards.

Like this story?
There’s lots more information on Eden’s work around Climate Change on the Our Work section of our website.

Support us by spreading our messages and get daily updates on our latest stories by following us on our Eden Facebook page.

(For a bit of fun, every Friday our Plant Records Manager, Chris Bisson, the guy who maintains all the recorded information on our plant collections, will do a regular blog slot where he recommends his favourite “plant records” – that is, songs that are in some way linked to a plant. (Do you see what we did there?) )

‘Pictures of Lily’ The Who (1967)

The Lilium genus are herbaceous plants that grow from bulbs, known particularly for their wide variety of stunning flowers, making them a favourite with gardeners and flower arrangers. Eden, naturally, has a fine selection of both day and tropical lilies.

As a responsible environmental charity, The Eden Project cannot condone the wanton guitar smashing and hotel wrecking that Townsend and Moon pioneered but boy, was it entertaining to watch!

Chris Bisson – Plant Records Manager  – Eden Project

One Planet, the BBC World Service’s flagship environment and global development programme, is to broadcast a climate change discussion from the unique surroundings of Eden’s Mediterranean Biome on Thursday December 3 in the Mediterranean Biome’s citrus grove.

The debate will be broadcast on One Planet on the eve of the United Nations Climate Change Conference and features some of the world’s foremost environmental thinkers.

Together, the programme’s panellists and contributors will be examining whether international summits are the best way to tackle climate change, looking at what realistically can be expected out of the Copenhagen process and asking what issues are not on the table at the summit, but which need to be factored in to any attempt to reduce global warming.

Four people will make up the panel at Eden: Tim Smit, Chief Executive of Eden, Vicky Pope, Head of Climate Change Advice at the Met Office, Peter Sammonds, Professor of Geophysics at University College London and John Sauven, Executive Director of Greenpeace UK.

Panellists contributing by telephone on the day will be: Changhua Wu, Greater China Director of the China Group from Beijing, Nigel Purvis, President of Climate Advisers and Hammer Simwinga, who runs the North Luangwa Wildlife Conservation and Community Development programme in Zambia.

Also contributing to the broadcast will be: Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – the diplomat in change of the Copenhagen summit and Mohamed Nasheed, President of the Maldives. President Nasheed announced a pioneering collaboration between the Eden Project and the Government of the Maldives on climate change earlier this year.

One Planet is a weekly view of global development and the environment presented by Mike Williams, an experienced former BBC foreign correspondent. BBC World Service is the BBC’s International radio station and has a reach of up to 40 million listeners.

James Kirwin (left) and Darren Schmieden (right) with Ken Radford who runs the People and Gardens scheme.

Two people who have never been employed before now have paid jobs thanks to a vegetable bag scheme run by People and Gardens with the help of the Eden Project.

For the past six months the group has been growing a wide range of vegetables at the nursery and selling them to Eden Project employees, Cornwall Council’s Adult Social Care department and the friends, family and carers of those working on the scheme.

The success of this has meant that James Kirwin and Darren Schmieden can now be given paid employment growing the vegetables and packing the bags.

Darren said: “Working here has really helped me develop my gardening skills and I’m enjoying growing vegetables for the bags.”

People and Gardens was established ten years ago by Ken Radford and aims to enable participants whose lives have been affected by mental and physical challenges ranging from autism to Down’s syndrome to play a greater role in their communities.

To date, over 150 people have been helped to make real improvements in their lives through learning horticultural skills and growing food for Eden’s restaurants. Some of the participants go on to live independently, to study and to find jobs.

Ken Radford said: “We’re really pleased to be in a position to give James and Darren jobs. They’ve worked brilliantly over the years and can be proud of what the team has achieved with the vegetable bag scheme. People and Gardens is about changing the lives of people who, through no fault of their own, are disadvantaged. The project is based on the credibility of what our guys achieve and many of them have made great strides since we first met them.”

“We’re about encouraging participation, presence, choice, competence and respect and hopefully we achieve these aims, as well as providing our customers with fresh, local vegetables every two weeks.”

People and Gardens works closely and in partnership with the Eden Project and the vegetable bag scheme was started to create jobs, providing real work for real pay for some of the participants.

The group was initially based at the Lost Gardens of Heligan before moving to Eden’s Watering Lane nursery, where participants work closely with Eden’s own skilled horticulturists.

There are currently 45 people taking part, all coming from within a 25-mile radius of the nursery and with an age range of 16 to 70.

Like this story?
There’s lots more information on Eden’s project’s and programmes on the Our Work section of our website.

Support us by spreading our messages and get daily updates on our latest stories by following us on our Eden Facebook page.

Here’s a really lovely new film about our Time of Gifts festival which Santa Claus will be launching FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER in a spectacular evening of carols, sparkling trees and a stunning lantern procession.

The event starts at 5.40 pm with the awakening of a giant Cloud Dragon on the ice rink.  Accompanied by an ice chest, the dragon will then lead the way to the Rainforest Biome to the stirring sound the Cornish pipe band Radjel.

At 5.50pm Mount Charles Brass Band will be playing Christmas carols as Santa arrives in a decorated land-train and takes centre stage at the arena.

He will then light Eden’s beautiful white Christmas tree, made from thousands of recycled carrier bags. Dotted around the scene are trees that have been decorated by local school children and community groups.

Classes from 19 primary schools planned and hosted tea parties for their ‘elders’, supported by lead artists and Eden staff. Children and ‘elders’ shared stories of their community Christmases past and present.

Each class then created tree decorations to tell the stories they had shared. Each tree has a story, of community, of a lifetime of memories, of knowledge to be passed on and of unanswered questions.

Enhancing the festive glow is the beautifully-lit wood which fringes Eden’s spectacular rink, designed with a larger skating area this year.

At 7.30pm there will be carols from the Eden Project Choir under the twinkling lights of the Mediterranean Biome.

There will be an exciting climax at 8.30pm when the dragon returns from the rainforest and leads visitors on a lantern-lit meander to the arena, where Dalla, a traditional Cornish band, will close the evening.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a variety of freshly prepared and locally-sourced food, including Eden-baked bread and home-made soup at £1.75, winter berry and chilli chocolate crepes.

If they really want to warm up they can take an atmospheric stroll around the Rainforest Biome, where they can stop for an ice-cold cocktail and some musical entertainment and stories at the new tropical bar, Bam Bams.

November 27 is also the last chance before Christmas for Cornwall and Devon residents to take advantage of Eden’s offer of half-price admission.  All they need is proof of residence and photo ID.

Christmas shoppers will find the Eden Store is stocked with beautiful and unusual decorations, hampers and gifts for all the family, with plenty of ideas for stocking fillers.

November 27 signals the start of the festive period with late night opening on Friday and Saturday nights except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

On late nights, the site is open until 9pm with last entry at 7.30pm. Until December 23.

Eden will be serving Christmas lunches and dinners with all the trimmings.  The turkey is from Tywardreth and all the vegetables are locally grown.  Lunch is £6.75 or two courses for £8.50.

Christmas at Eden runs through to January 2.  The winter season, A Time of Gifts, which celebrates the joy of spending time with friends and family and giving gifts which are precious, such as time and friendship, runs until February 12.