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Nature Connections – activities for better health and wellbeing

Connect with nature and other people, improve your health and wellbeing and learn in group activities at the Eden Project. 

The activities we offer

Horticultural Therapist Julia standing amongst plants in polytunnel

Therapeutic Horticulture

We run gardening programmes for those experiencing health-related problems, designed to improve mental and physical wellbeing. Run by our therapeutic horticulture practitioners, our Therapy Garden is tucked away at Eden in the Outer Estate, and is here to lift your spirits and make you feel at home.

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Walking Group and the Eden Project

Weekly walking group

This friendly walking group is for adults who benefit from increasing their physical and social activity, helping people manage a range of health conditions from COPD to diabetes. 

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adults and children playing outside

Early years activities

We offer a range of pre-school activities, including baby yoga, an interactive music group for toddlers, as well as a forest school style outdoor club for under-fives and their parents, carers or grandparents. 

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Wonder Workshops at the Eden Project

Wonder Workshops

These 90-minute facilitated workshops are designed for adults who would benefit from being part of a fun and friendly group, learning more about nature and trying new, creative activities.    

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Hands using smart phone to photograph tropical leaf

Connections through Photography

An eight-week photography course for adults, teaching techniques for taking better images using smart phones, designed for people who would benefit from connecting with others and nature.

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Individuals with diabetes on a walk at the Eden Project

Active Travel Walking Events

To support and inspire you in thinking about active travel – whether that’s walking, cycling or horseriding – we’re running local walking events to support people in making daily travel more physically active.

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Quote

Participant

“ There was never any pressure, it was just a place to come and 'be' in a beautiful garden, to learn new skills, ease back into social interactions and grow in confidence. ”

Wonder Workshops at Eden

Why connect with nature?

Being in green spaces positively impacts on our physiology. When we spend time in nature, our stress levels decrease, we feel calmer and our creativity and productivity are boosted. People who regularly access green spaces have better health and wellbeing. These wellbeing benefits are enhanced when people feel related to or a part of nature. People who have a relationship with nature are more likely to care for it and take part in pro-environmental behaviours. Nature is good for us and we can do good for nature.  

Daffodils in Outdoor Gardens at Eden Project

Why the Eden Project?

The Eden Project’s iconic gardens and estate in Cornwall are a symbol that transformation is possible, and offer a powerful message about personal and planetary health. They showcase a diversity of plants and environments which tell stories of global connections and natural processes of renewal, adaption and resilience. They grow and change throughout the seasons, so there’s always something new to see and experience.

Lady pruning plants in garden

About our programmes

Our Nature Connections programme has been developed to deliver group activities in our safe, inspiring site, with therapeutic places and practices, skilled facilitators and supportive volunteers. Joining a group will give you a positive experience of visiting a green space and nature-based activities which support better health, wellbeing, learning and development.  There are a range of activities for every stage of life – from babies and toddlers with their parents or grandparents, to young people, adults and older people.    

Why we offer activities for better health and wellbeing

At the Eden Project, we believe in the power of bringing people together to connect with nature and others, doing activities, developing skills and building relationships to lead happier, healthier and more sustainable lives for the benefit of all.

We’re an educational charity who have been delivering activities to support the health of our community members since 2005, when we were selected as a venue to host a weekly walk for people with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Since then, our programme has grown to include therapeutic horticulture, creative and arts-based practices, walks and trails, physical activities, learning opportunities, and activities for under-5s. 

Social prescribing at the Eden Project

Since 2016 we’ve been working closely with local GPs and health practitioners through social prescribing. Social prescribing is about ensuring that people have access to a range of beneficial activities and a network of support to help them manage their health and wellbeing, so they can discover and choose what works for them, and are supported in making healthy lifestyle choices. It recognises the important role that communities, voluntary organisations and charities play and how having ways to help and support yourself can empower individuals.  

All of our activities are open to social prescribing referrals. We also have our own social prescriber who can help support people and find more opportunities. We accept referrals from other professionals who are looking for next steps to support their clients and know that there are community groups who offer support to individuals, so are open to community referrals.

If you are a social prescriber, professional referrer or community referrer, please contact natureconnections@edenproject.com or call 01726 818550 for more information and to receive our professional referral form.
 

Programme supporters

Nature Connection is supported by the Pears Foundation. 

We are working in partnership with St Austell Healthcare and Carrick Health to provide our diabetes and cardiac walking groups. 

Our therapeutic horticulture is funded by the Community Partnership Grant, which is funded by NHS Charities Together Community Partnership Grant and delivered in partnership with Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity. We also receive funding from the Defence Garden Scheme.

Discover more from Eden

Community member with Eden gardener planting together

Help us achieve more

By supporting Eden today – by joining as a Member, or making a donation – you’ll help us to continue to deliver projects which can transform lives.
Support our work
Todd Conversations in the Canopy Podcast

Why do plants make us happy?

Listen to our podcast episode where our host Tod chats with Dr Georgina Gould – a Senior Psychologist and Clinical Lead for Children and Young People – about why it is that plants and nature make us happy.

Listen now

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