Eden Project Morecambe to install £4.5m centrepiece tree

The Eden Project Morecambe will install a centrepiece that will come in the form of a multi-million pound tree, it has been announced.

The creation of The Elder Tree, described as "one of the most significant elements" of the project, comes courtesy of a £4.5m donation from a charity lottery.

The 20m (65ft) immersive exhibit will guide guests from its roots to the the trunk hollows, displaying memories of past ecosystems and "how we can reconnect with nature to help restore it".

Eden Project Morecambe, which opens in two years time, will also feature landscaped gardens inspired by the coast, two shell-shaped domes and will celebrate the "beauty, ecology and heritage of Morecambe Bay".

The donation for the tree has come from charity lottery company Omaze, fundraising in partnership with other British charities.

Andy Jasper, Eden Project CEO, said: "The funding has specifically secured The Elder Tree – which will sit at the heart of the experience for visitors.

"More than a striking landmark, it will help tell the story of our changing relationship with the natural world and inspire people to imagine what an incredibly positive future could look like."

He added: "We are hugely thankful to everyone who has played a part in making this possible."

Groundworks begin this summer on the 1.5‑acre free-to-enter community gardens.

The gardens are set to open in spring 2027, ahead of the full Eden Project Morecambe experience, which is scheduled to open in winter 2028.

Eden Project Morecambe is being delivered in partnership with Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster University.

The project is also being supported by UK government investment.

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