Lancashire Wildlife Trust welcomes Eden Project to the North West

Lancashire Wildlife Trust welcomes Eden Project to the North West

An artistic impression of what Eden project Morecambe could look like

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust is thrilled to hear that the Eden Project has received funding for Eden Project Morecambe from the government.

Eden Project Morecambe is receiving a £50 million grant as part of the Levelling Up fund, meaning that work can begin on this wonderful new attraction in Morecambe.

On the seafront looking out across Morecambe Bay, Eden Project Morecambe will be a boost to the town, economically and socially. Having a major hub of tourism and education, as well as celebrating this hugely important ecological area, is welcome news to Morecambe and the whole of Lancashire.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Chief Executive Dr Tom Burditt welcomed the news today:  “We are delighted that it looks like the Eden Project is definitely coming to Morecambe permanently.

“We have been working in partnership with the Eden Project team, the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust and Cumbria Wildlife Trust for a couple of years on the pioneering The Bay: A Blueprint for Nature’s Recovery project. We have pooled resources to look at how caring for nature can promote positive health and wellbeing for our residents; and how people, in turn, can help nature, from beach cleans to coastal hay meadows.

“The arrival of Eden will further spotlight the wonderful wild riches of Morecambe Bay, which, with the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats in the UK, is already an Eden for hundreds of thousands of birds.

“We look forward to continuing to work together with them to make sure this wildlife is celebrated, conserved and enhanced; and to promote opportunities for local people to take action for our nature so that all our communities – both wildlife and people all around the bay - will benefit.”

Morecambe Bay is a nature rich and biodiverse coastline, providing habitat to thousands of species of wildlife, from small molluscs all the way up to seals and dolphins. Home to the UK’s largest expanse of intertidal mudflats, which is a hugely important stopover on the migration path of thousands of waders each year, the bay has hidden depths and beauty.

The Eden Project’s experience in teaching people about this nature is going to be a major win for wildlife in the North West, particularly on our coast and in the Irish Sea.

The Bay has been delivering events within the community and small group sessions for people who need a bit of extra help with their wellbeing. Health and Wellbeing with a connection to nature is already an area of focus for Eden Project Morecambe, and the team from The Bay has been setting the groundwork for this all around Morecambe Bay.