Mud between your toes

What’s it all about?

Children are spending less and less time outside. Not only are they missing out on a whole world of fun, adventure and really cool games (Hide and Seek anyone?) but there are some serious knock-on effects including health problems, poor social development and little understanding or interest in the environment - especially worrying in the face of climate change.

That's why Eden has launched a programme to combat the increasing alienation of children from their environment. We call it Mud Between Your Toes because its aim is to reconnect children with the outside world - and that involves learning to love the mud.

Why focus on children?

• By 2010 one in five children will be clinically obese
• The government says lack of play is as damaging as junk food
• Children are suffering from depression and are being treated with anti-depressants
• A generation that doesn’t understand or value the natural world will not strive to protect it
• A generation that doesn’t value society won’t work together to save it

What we’re doing

Current Mud Between Your Toes activities consist of:

• Schools programmes exploring local wildlife places
• Outdoor activities and survival skills courses run by Eden and the Bishop’s Forum Activity Centre
• A major research programme to promote nature based play
• Den building activities at Eden

What can you do to help?

The Eden Project is wholly owned by the Eden Trust, an educational charity (charity number 1093070). Our main source of income to date has been that raised from visitors to the Eden Project, but to move forward and expand our educational outreach programmes, including Mud Between Your Toes, we need charitable funds. These funds will be used to develop and expand our educational programmes.

Find out about the many different ways you can support us

Back to People