34 photos as official ground breaking ceremony heralds start of Eden Project Morecambe work

Crowds gathered and a brass band played as special guests attended to herald a key moment in the development of the £100m attraction.

With construction expected to begin in August, Eden Project Morecambe remains on track to open in winter 2028, bringing an immersive visitor destination celebrating the natural rhythms, ecology and heritage of Morecambe Bay.

Once complete, the project is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and to support more than 1,000 jobs across construction and the wider regional economy, delivering long-term economic, educational and wellbeing benefits.

Eden Project Morecambe is being delivered by the Eden Project – the globally recognised educational charity, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year – working in partnership with Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster University, with the support of UK Government investment.

During a ceremony at the site, Andy Jasper, CEO of the Eden Project, planted a giant shovel into the ground to mark the start of the work – which begins with the Bring Me Sunshine Garden which featured at RHS Chelsea earlier this year.

The giant spade was created by two young people from Lancaster & Morecambe College, giving them an opportunity to learn new skills and be part of the historic moment.

College representatives involved in the wood and metalwork project attended the event, including the giant spade project lead Ryann Williams, head of construction and engineering at the college.

Earlier in the afternoon, residents and guests had the opportunity to join a Community Conversation at the Winter Gardens, where information project boards were on display together with an Eden Project Morecambe 3D scaled model of the new site.

Eden Project Morecambe project director John Pye, Lancaster City Council leader Caroline Jackson, and representatives from VINCI design and build contractors spoke to those gathered.