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Why does nature matter?
This is your hub of everyday tips to make a positive, planet-saving change through protecting the natural world.
The natural world is the ultimate life support system, producing fresh air, clean water, fertile soil, rich biodiversity, and a stable climate, and it has an awesome recycling system. The more plants, animal, fungi and microbes, the healthier the system.
Today, we are facing an emergency with dire air and water pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. We have broken our relationship with the natural world and are punching holes in the web of life.
What can I actually do?
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Go wild and grow plants
Grow food, flowers, trees – anything you like – in a garden, window box, allotment, wherever you can. Do it organically, using peat-free compost, or simply embrace the weeds and ‘rewild’. -
Create homes for wildlife
Bug hotels and bird boxes can be installed in gardens, on buildings, at home, work or school, or consider digging in a pond.
Go an extra step by growing fungi or creating compost from food and plant waste which adds vital nutrients back to soil and improves its structure.
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Tread as lightly as possible
Reduce your impact on nature. Save water and don’t waste food, use nature-friendly products and dispose of pollutants responsibly.
Fix, reuse and recycle to avoid landfill. Cut air pollution: walk, cycle and use public transport.
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Connect with nature
Research shows we protect nature when we feel more connected to it. Spend time outdoors and in green spaces with family and friends.
Respect wildlife and take part in a community beach or park clean.
Plants & Biodiversity - Doers
Can how I shop make a difference?
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Buy wisely and consume less
Think before buying something new. Repair, recycle and swap what you have. Look for sustainable certification labels such as Soil Association, MSC Seafood, Rainforest Alliance, FairWild, Fairtrade, FSC. The Giki app can help.
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Consider what you eat
The food industry is the prevailing cause of biodiversity loss. Choose fresh, local, seasonal, and organic produce; buy in bulk from a ‘refill’ source, not packaged in plastic.
Eat more plants, less meat, fish and dairy, and embrace diversity.
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Look for nature-friendly products
Peatlands support life and store carbon. Use peat-free compost and avoid garden, household and personal care products that contain chemicals that are harmful to nature, use natural alternatives – like cleaning with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. -
Consider what you wear
The fashion industry has a huge impact on the health of the environment. Choose natural fibres, try a washing machine filter, buy second-hand, care, repair and recycle.
Avoid disposable fashion made far away, and find long-lasting alternatives made locally.
Plants & Biodiversity - Shoppers
How do I get the word out?
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Speak up for nature
Tell people what you’ve discovered about any issues in your area. Try and get a group together, including any local businesses.
Pass on your thoughts to local MPs or conservation groups.
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Support environmental organisations and campaigns
Help them push for sustainable practices in big industries, rally against deforestation, practise rewilding and protect nature, and persuade governments to transform policies. -
Pressure governments to protect nature
Use your vote. Write to your local MP about issues in your area (and beyond) and encourage them to support positive change through their votes and policies.
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Keep an eye on local building projects
Use your right to comment on new developments in your area to encourage the use of sustainable practices and materials, and suggest nature-friendly measures, such as the inclusion of wildlife corridors.
Plants & Biodiversity - Shouters
Can I find out more?
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Be a curious consumer
Learn where something you use or consume comes from and how it got to you, read labels and ask questions in shops, markets, restaurants, and garden centres.
Ask others what changes they have made to protect nature.
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Become a citizen scientist
Try the iNaturalist app, which identifies species, connects with other enthusiasts, and contributes to global biodiversity knowledge.
Take part in a wildlife monitoring scheme: tracking plants, insects, fish, and other animals (there are many more out there).
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Learn a new skill
Find a gardening course or group in your area, learn new DIY skills or how to upcycle, and check out life hacks that show you how to create new things from waste, or clean using natural substances. -
Sign up for nature news
Keep up to date with climate and biodiversity news, reports and peer-reviewed research from reputable sources, as well as positive, inspiring stories of what people are doing to make a difference.
Plants & Biodiversity - Learners
Eden's nature-based initiatives
We have committed to becoming a climate-positive organisation by 2030. A big part of this is protecting natural carbon sinks (like meadows, forests, peatlands, wetlands, and soil) and creating more by restoring natural landscapes.
This includes our gardens and outer estate at our site in Cornwall, a reclaimed and restored landscape where we embrace wildlife and grow with nature in mind. We plant trees and grow plants using peat-free compost and homemade soils and biochar.
We also work on restoration and regeneration projects further afield–both nationally and internationally. Our project in Costa Rica is working with local communities to restore a "biological corridor" of dry tropical forest, encouraging the return of wildlife that includes countless plants and animals such as jaguars and tapirs, and creating an environmentally and economically sustainable region.
Part of the Eden Project, the National Wildflower Centre (NWC) uses wildflowers to bring biodiversity, delight and colour into the lives of communities across the UK.
The UK has lost 97% of its wildflower habitats since WWII. This has had a devastating impact on insects and other wildlife. We create new wildflower landscapes in partnership with communities, businesses, local and parish councils and other NGOs, and run conservation projects that bring threatened species of plants and animals back from the brink.
With the Eden Project Wildflower Bank, we’re aiming to create wildflower-rich habitats across the UK through the creation of Biodiversity Net Gain Credits. Working with landowners, we aim to provide a nature solution which will conserve, manage and restore habitats that enhance biodiversity.
Education is at the heart of everything we do. We provide a wealth of learning opportunities for everyone from preschool to degree level and beyond to help people better understand their place in the natural world and inspire them to play their part in creating a sustainable future.
We welcome over 50,000 children a year for school visits and workshops, offer degrees in everything from plant science to sustainable festival management, and seek to inspire transformational change through our leadership courses.
In partnership with the University of Plymouth we offer an MSc in Land and Ecological Restoration that explores ways in which damaged and destroyed habitats and ecosystems can be regenerated. Using our site as an example of successful restoration of post-industrial land. The course aims to develop a holistic understanding of the process of restoring degraded sites and uses the Eden site as an example of the successful regeneration of post-industrial land.
We’re transforming our operating systems to eradicate emissions and waste, minimise our negative impact and increase our positive impact on nature.
Eden Project Cornwall is over two decades old, so we're retrofitting old site systems and installing clean technologies, replacing gas boilers and cooking systems, installing more solar PV and electric chargers, implementing circular systems for water and waste, and increasing energy efficiency (the best kWh is the one that isn’t used). In 2018, we phased out all plastic bottles; now we encourage visitors to bring reusable bottles and offer drinking water taps on site.
We have developed a sustainable procurement policy and a supplier charter for our supply chains that will encourage others to adopt their own sustainable pathways that align with ours. We support fair trade schemes, avoid products linked to deforestation or the clearing of natural habitats, and condemn compulsory or forced labour.
All future building work, including new Eden Projects, will set leading examples of ultra-sustainable construction and operation. We are aiming for net zero-carbon, regenerative design, and reusable, recyclable and sustainable material use that aligns with the UN sustainable development goals.
