BA Better World Community Fund – Planet has provided £150,000 of match funding
Eden Project National Wildflower Centre (NWC)
Par, England, United Kingdom
Aim
To support Eden’s NWC in delivering nature recovery through inclusive, accessible and tailored engagement programmes
The Eden Project is a globally recognised educational charity, founded with a mission to demonstrate and inspire positive action for the planet. It houses the world’s largest rainforest in captivity and operates as a living classroom, engaging visitors with nature, sustainability, and community.
The Eden Project is also home to the National Wildflower Centre (NWC) which works to restore the UK’s lost wildflower meadows wherever we can. With a 97% reduction in species rich wildflower habitats there is a lot to be done. Alongside our habitat restoration we are working to restore our connection to this extraordinary natural heritage, especially for young people who have grown up alongside significant landscape change. Fields and hedgerows full of wildflowers that were commonplace for their grandparents are now a rarity for many children.
We are combining the Eden projects unique skills in ecological restoration and nature-based education to bring new landscape to life in across communities, in schools and on our own site in Cornwall.
There are 3 elements to our proposed programme
1) Habitat creation and public engagement with local communities across the country
With 85% of UK citizens now living in urban areas the chances to experience and therefore value wildflower habitats has changed dramatically over the last 75 years.
This component of our works seeks to increase biodiversity in our towns and cities working with local communities to create opportunities for people experience the benefits of being involved in bringing wildflowers back to life.
Outcomes will include
- Habitat creation in 6 locations across the UK in areas of disadvantage and minimal access to greenspace to include Cornwall, Liverpool, Dundee, Belfast, Morecambe, and Gwent.
- Extending the impact of Eden’s nature connections programme supporting climate resilience and nature-based health and wellbeing.
2) Seed Lab
The Eden Project NWC is involved on science several research projects to improve our understanding of nature recovery in detail. As wildflower seed producers ourselves we are passionate about developing the best ways of collecting, growing, harvesting and re-sowing seed.
A seed full of potential. We want to share the wonder and science of the wildflower seeds by re-deigning one of our spaces in the Core Building at the Eden Project into a dedicated “Seed Lab” to engage the public in these fascinating power packs of life.
Outcomes include
- Dedicated space to support staff and students engaged in seed-based research
- Dedicated space and programme supporting public engagement across all ages using science and arts-based activities and stories relating to wildflower seeds.
3) Eden education programme for schools
We believe children and young people should learn from and in nature to encourage creativity, health and wellbeing, and to equip future generations with a passion for the natural world so that they ultimately become its stewards and champions.
With support from the BA Better World Fund, the project will contribute towards Eden’s schools and Virtual educational programme
Funding from BA would support Eden’s education team to work with school children to explore the Rainforest and Mediterranean Biomes, to spark their curiosity, and discover their power to protect our planet. In addition funding from BA would support those who cannot travel to Cornwall the opportunity to participate in our online educational programme with Eden Teachers offering lessons directly from the Eden Rainforest.
This educational programme would also include a direct link back to the National Wildflower Centre through the creation of lesson plans linked to the curriculum, workshops for teachers and some lesson resources.
This project successfully funded on 16th March 2026