Bear Grylls And Eden Project Mark Sir David Attenborough’s 100th With Nature Call

What if your back garden could become part of the largest nature reserve in the country?

That is the question being put to households across the UK as Cornwall’s Eden Project leads a nationwide call to action between the 5th and 8th of June, marking Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday with a weekend dedicated to helping nature recover.

Eight Charities Join Forces

The Eden Project is joining seven other major organisations including the RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, Butterfly Conservation, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), The Conservation Volunteers, Canal & River Trust and RSPCA to champion the call. Adventurer Bear Grylls is also backing the cause, with The Big Lunch and The Big Help Out coming together for the first time.

More than 10 million people are expected to take part across the four days, which organisers say will be the UK’s biggest celebration of community. The weekend draws inspiration from Sir David’s most recent BBC series, Secret Garden, and invites people to lend nature a helping hand at home.

📷Adults Hanging Bird Feeder

Why It Matters

The UK ranks in the top 10% globally for biodiversity loss, making it one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. The RSPCA’s 2025 Animal Kindness Index Report found that 78% of people are worried about the future of global wildlife, while 73% are concerned about UK wildlife, both up on 2024 figures.

Gardens cover an area more than three times the size of all National Nature Reserves combined. They support over half of the UK’s butterflies and more than 40% of bird and mammal species, making them a vast and often overlooked network for wildlife.

Small actions can add up. Planting a wildflower patch, building a bug hotel, creating a hedgehog highway between gardens, letting lawns grow a little longer, or sowing wildflowers in neglected community spaces are all on the list of suggestions.

📷Children Outdoors - Pond

Eden Launches First Ever Flower Count

As part of its 25th year, the Eden Project will run its own Big Help Out by launching the first ever flower count across its outdoor gardens, with the public invited to take part. The annual count will track how plants are responding to climate change and is inspired by Sir David and E.O. Wilson’s concept that by noticing and recording the life around us, we can all play a part in protecting it.

Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project, said: “Just imagine a world of gardens without borders. Imagine a moment where people all over the country created corridors for wildlife to create the largest reserve in the country. Can you imagine such an outrageous act of generosity and encouragement to the natural world? Can you? If you love wildlife, set it free, gardens without borders. Acting local but dreaming big, its ordinary people who will make the difference, do something bold for nature and join in on 5-8 June!”

📷Garden Event

The Wellbeing Bonus

It is not just wildlife that benefits. Around 75% of volunteers report improved mental health and 89% say they feel they are making a difference. There is also evidence of a “double boost” effect, where helping nature combines the benefits of volunteering with the wellbeing gains of spending time outdoors.

In 2023, 72% of participants in CPRE’s Hedgelife Help Out citizen science scheme found taking part helped them feel closer to nature. Even so, nearly one in five people say they have never volunteered simply because they were never asked.

Bear, who is supporting both events, said: “As an adventurer, you soon learn that the great outdoors gives us everything, challenge, perspective, and life itself! It connects us to nature, and to each other. Now it’s our turn to have fun giving something back. That’s why I’m encouraging everyone to join in with The Big Lunch and The Big Help Out on 5-8 June! It’s your chance to get outdoors, get stuck in, get your hands dirty, and do something positive for nature and your community. Whether it’s creating your own wild space, having a community clear up, or hosting something outdoors to bring people and communities together. Every action counts! When we support the places we love, and offer friendship to the people around us, we can all grow stronger together! So what will you do? Find out more at thebigdo.com!”

📷Two Ladies Hug

Five Top Tips To Take Action For Nature

1. Plant flowers in your community with the Eden Project and brighten someone’s day.
2. Provide water for wildlife with The Wildlife Trusts, or watch a WildLIVE to learn more about the issues facing nature today and what you can do about them.
3. Create nature highways and byways with the RSPB to help wildlife move around your neighbourhood and find the food and shelter they need.
4. Create a Wild Space for butterflies and other creatures with Butterfly Conservation, who have plenty of suggestions tailored to the amount of space you have.
5. Stop litter entering our waterways by doing a litter pick with the Canal and River Trust, and take their Canal Creatures quiz to see what kind of wildlife supporter you are.

The weekend is funded by Pears Foundation, UK Government and Co-op, with support from organisations including the Scouts, RNLI, British Red Cross and the Royal Voluntary Service. Free resources are available at edenprojectcommunities.com/the-big-do.

📷Planting

📷Children Outdoors - Pond

📷Charlie Big Lunch Community Northampton

📷Belgrave Community Allotment Big Lunch 2024

📷Beach Litter Pick

📷Bear Grylls