Eden Project expands live lessons to reach 30,000 more pupils annually
Educational charity celebrates 25 years with new digital initiative
The Eden Project is marking 25 years of educational achievements by launching Eden Project Live Learning, a significant expansion aimed at reaching an additional 30,000 pupils each year.
The new digital school's membership will bring the Eden Project's distinctive educational experiences into classrooms across the UK and globally.
Since its inauguration in 2001, Cornwall's Eden Project, has welcomed over 750,000 school children through its gates for various educational programs, maintaining an annual attendance of around 30,000 students.
Currently offering nearly 40 curriculum-linked workshops, Eden facilitates nature-connected learning for sustainability, engaging tens of thousands of learners nationwide each year.
Supported by funding from the BA Better World Community Fund, Eden Project will invest in new broadcasting technology to triple the number of live lessons, enabling the charity to extend its educational reach even further.
Eden Project Live Learning builds on the success of its existing livestream program, which connects young learners worldwide, including countries such as Canada, the USA, Japan, Portugal, and the Netherlands.
Through a mix of onsite visits, workshops, livestreams, and digital resources, Eden engaged with over 80,000 learners last year alone.
The initiative targets primary schools initially and will offer free access during the 2026/27 academic year. Lessons will be delivered as interactive broadcasts, covering themes like biodiversity, tropical rainforests, sustainability, food systems, and climate change.
Future plans include expanding the programme to secondary schools, colleges, and universities.
Educational broadcasts will feature iconic locations within the Eden Project, such as the Rainforest Biome, helping students explore the interplay between the human world and the environment.
Sam Kendall, Head of Education at the Eden Project, highlighted the foundational role education has played since its opening.
“Education has been at the heart of the Eden Project since the day we opened 25 years ago. Over that time, we've welcomed hundreds of thousands of young people to Cornwall and helped them discover the connections between people, plants, and the wider living world. As we look ahead to the next 25 years, we want to share those opportunities with even more children and young people,” Kendall said.
Carrie Harris, Director of Sustainability at British Airways, expressed pride in their partnership with Eden through the BA Better World Community Fund.
“We're proud to support the Eden Project through the BA Better World Community Fund. Education has a vital role to play in helping young people understand the world around them and inspiring positive action for the future. Eden Project Live Learning will help bring Eden's unique learning experiences to thousands more children, wherever they are,” Harris said.