Morecambe Bay educators visit original Eden Project
Forty education and community leaders from the Morecambe Bay Curriculum (MBC) travelled to the Eden Project Cornwall this month for a significant collaboration event designed to shape the educational offer at the much‑anticipated Eden Project Morecambe, opening in 2028.
The visit to the world‑renowned global gardens and education charity in the South West – which kicked off a year of celebrating turning 25 in March – brought together representatives from early years settings, schools, colleges, universities, community groups and local authorities across the Bay. The group was invited to contribute to emerging education plans for the new landmark destination Eden Project Morecambe.
Hosted by Eden’s education team, the group explored the educational charity’s approach to learning, community engagement and nature‑connected storytelling and viewed the recently approved plans for Eden Project Morecambe. The visit comes as the project prepares to start building the 1.5 acres of free‑to‑enter community gardens for Morecambe which will open in early 2027, creating new spaces for people to gather, learn and reconnect with nature ahead of the full site opening in 2028. At the heart of the gardens will sit a dramatically expanded, permanent version of the Eden Project Bring Me Sunshine Garden, Eden’s 25th‑anniversary showpiece at this May’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026.
The world-class destination will include two immersive, shell‑inspired superstructures: the bright, tropical Realm of the Sun, home to the dramatic 18‑metre Elder Tree and the atmospheric Realm of the Moon, inspired by the tidal rhythms and stories of the Bay.
The Morecambe Bay Curriculum – a teacher‑led movement and a cross‑sector partnership inspired in 2019 by the early plans for Eden Project Morecambe – includes more than 350 members representing 160 schools. It is supported by a partnership led by Lancaster University, Lancaster and Morecambe College, Eden Project and University of Cumbria. It recently received global recognition with a QS Reimagine Education Bronze Award for Sustainability Action for its work across nurseries, schools, colleges and universities in Morecambe, Lancaster and South Cumbria.
The collaboration is grounded in shared values. For a quarter of a century, Eden has curated immersive environments through storytelling and hands‑on experience to help people of all ages form meaningful connections with the natural world. Since 2001, more than 25 million visitors have passed through its iconic biomes, and more than one million children have taken part in nature‑based learning. These same principles – curiosity, connection, hope and wonder – sit at the heart of the MBC’s place‑based vision for young people across the Bay.
Sam Kendall, Head of Education at Eden Project Cornwall, said: “At Eden, we’ve always believed that learning begins with a spark of wonder – that moment when a young person feels the tug of the tide, dips a hand into a rock pool or suddenly realises they’re part of something much bigger. As an educational charity, our purpose is to create the conditions where connection, curiosity and care can flourish. That’s why it was such a joy to welcome the Morecambe Bay Curriculum educators to Cornwall. Their passion for helping children find belonging in their landscape mirrors everything Eden stands for. Eden Project Morecambe will offer a new home for those sparks of wonder, and it’s inspiring to be shaping that future alongside the people who know their communities best.”
Carys Nelkon, Partnerships Manager at Morecambe Bay Curriculum, Lancaster University, said: “The Morecambe Bay Curriculum was imagined after we were inspired by the early plans for Eden Project Morecambe – that spark set this whole movement in motion and our visit to Eden Project Cornwall was a full circle moment for our community. We share Eden’s belief that young people thrive when learning feels alive to place – to the tides, wildlife, stories and communities that make our region so special. Seeing the site reminded us how Eden Project Morecambe can help grow our learners’ curiosity, creativity and their belief that they can make a difference. This next chapter feels incredibly exciting and we’re delighted to be shaping it alongside brilliant educators from around the Bay.”
Morecambe Bay Curriculum has also secured a £1.5 million award from the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund, helping accelerate the next phase of embedding place‑based, environmentally rooted learning across Morecambe Bay.
The new Eden in Morecambe is being delivered in partnership with Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster University, with support from UK Government investment. The project has been designed to complement the heritage of the promenade, including the Midland Hotel and the Grade II*‑listed Winter Gardens and will open fully in 2028.