LONDON, December 31 (TNF): A nationwide programme aimed at helping people reconnect with nature and improve community wellbeing has secured more than £2 million in new funding from the National Lottery, giving a major boost to efforts linking environmental recovery with public health.
The initiative, led by the Eden Project, is titled Nature: Connection and Recovery. Programme leaders say it places nature at the centre of improving physical and mental wellbeing while encouraging communities to take practical action on climate change.
The funding will support activities across several parts of the UK. Areas set to benefit include Dundee, Morecambe, Liverpool, Belfast, Newport and Cornwall. Local communities in these regions will take part in a wide range of nature-based projects, including habitat restoration, food-growing schemes, creative arts and outdoor wellbeing programmes.
According to the Eden Project, the scheme will run for three years and will focus on helping people build stronger relationships with their natural surroundings. Organizers say the programme will also highlight how restoring nature can play a meaningful role in tackling the climate emergency.
Sam Alford, from the Cornwall-based Eden Project, said the initiative aims to show that nature is not separate from everyday life but central to future solutions. He said the programme would help communities understand how local action can support wider environmental recovery.
By the end of the three-year period, Alford said more people across the UK would have opportunities to shape and take part in activities that restore and regenerate natural spaces close to where they live. He added that the scheme is designed to empower people, not just engage them.
The project brings together a wide partnership of organizations. These include the wildlife trusts of Gwent, Ulster, Lancashire and Scotland, as well as health and wellbeing company Intelligent Health and the Ashken Family Foundation. Together, the partners aim to combine environmental expertise with public health and community engagement.
Programme leaders said a key focus will be reaching people who often face barriers to accessing nature. The Eden Project said the scheme is designed to work with communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination, and to support them with skills and opportunities linked to environmental action.
They said these communities are often the most affected by climate change and poor access to green spaces. The programme aims to address that gap by bringing nature-based activities directly into local neighborhoods.
Food-growing projects will form one part of the scheme, helping communities learn how local food systems connect with climate resilience. Nature recovery work will also include restoring green spaces and habitats, while creative activities such as art projects will help people express their relationship with nature in new ways.
Liz Watchorn, from the National Lottery Community Fund, said reconnecting people with nature is essential for both planetary and human wellbeing. She said the funding was made possible by National Lottery players and would leave a lasting impact in communities across the country.
She added that projects like this help people feel ownership over local spaces while supporting long-term environmental goals.
The Eden Project confirmed that the programme will begin in 2026, with initial activity launching in St Austell, Morecambe and Liverpool. Additional locations will be announced later in the year as the scheme expands.
Organizers say the phased rollout will allow lessons learned in early locations to inform work elsewhere. They also said local voices will play a central role in shaping how projects develop in each area.
The Eden Project has long been involved in combining environmental education with public engagement. This latest funding reflects growing recognition of the link between nature, health and climate resilience.
As climate pressures increase and communities face rising health challenges, programme leaders say nature-based solutions offer a practical and inclusive way forward. They argue that restoring natural spaces can also help restore social connections and community confidence.
The funding announcement was confirmed by the Eden Project and the National Lottery Community Fund, according to statements released on December 31.
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