As the charity Eden Project prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary, it proudly announces this new three-year Nature: Connection and Recovery programme.
Working in partnership with Gwent, Ulster, Lancashire and Scottish Wildlife Trusts, and Intelligent Health, the programme will target communities across the UK which are worst affected by climate change and health inequalities.
The UK is in the top 10% of nature depleted countries globally, this nature loss impacts our resilience to climate change and The World Health Organisation estimates that mental ill-health will be the biggest health issue globally by 2030.
The programme will connect people with nature to boost health and wellbeing, while equipping communities with the skills and confidence to take climate-positive action locally.
Research shows that spending two hours in nature per week can significantly improve wellbeing, underlining the importance of accessible green spaces for all. That equates to just 17 minutes a day and the Eden Project will be sharing tips to achieve this daily allowance wherever people live, in early 2026.
Activities in the programme will provide ideas and inspiration to enable people to take planet positive action where they live and contribute to the climate challenge. Nature recovery, food growing and art-based projects will help to engage local people, in climate positive action, especially those who are facing mental health challenges.
It will include a national campaign and local activities to engage people with nature and raise awareness of actions people can take to mitigate the effects of climate change, demonstrating the connection between positive action for both people and planet.
Thanks to National Lottery players, the Nature: Connection and Recovery programme has received more than £2 million in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK.
Sam Alford, Head of Nature Connections at the Eden Project, explained: “We can see the impact of climate change all around us and this programme will highlight the role of nature in helping to solve the climate emergency while also demonstrating how nature connection can also support better physical and mental health and well-being.
“By the end of the three-years more people in communities across the UK will have had the opportunity to help shape and participate in nature connections and recovery activities, helping to restore and regenerate natural spaces near to where they live. The programme will leave a legacy of trained nature connection facilitators and ‘community nature guardians’ empowered to protect and help look after natural spaces in their communities.”
Liz Watchorn, Head of Funding, Climate Action Fund at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “As they begin their 25th anniversary celebrations, we are proud to be funding the Eden Project through the Climate Action Fund as they support those most impacted by climate change and health inequalities. Helping people to reconnect with nature is vital for our planet and our wellbeing, and thanks to National Lottery players, this project will have a lasting impact on communities across the UK."
The programme aims to reach people and communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage and discrimination and will support them with the skills needed to help mitigate the climate crisis. It has been planned in partnership with Wildlife Trusts, Intelligent Health, and the Ashken Family Foundation and encourages local partnership working in each area.
The areas which will benefit over the next three years include Dundee, Morecambe, Liverpool, Belfast, Newport in Wales and Cornwall (home of the Eden Project). Project delivery will start in the New Year in St Austell, Morecambe and Liverpool, with activities in the other nations being announced in the Autumn.
Eden Project’s Sam Alford added: “There is something intrinsically hopeful about the act of sowing seeds, growing food or flowers, getting involved in a nature recovery project in your community. These activities will give agency to local communities to tackle climate change while increasing their access to the social and wellbeing benefits of being in nature.”
To read about the programme in Welsh, please view the news story on our Communities website.
I ddarllen am y rhaglen yn Gymraeg, mae'r stori newyddion ar gael ar ein gwefan Cymunedau.
