Eden Project photography course helps young people notice nature

Most of us walk around with a camera in our pocket and barely point it at anything living. A free course at the Eden Project wants to change that for young people in Cornwall, using the phone in your hand as a way back into the green world around you.

What the course is

The photography strand is part of Creating Connections, a programme of nature activities for young people under 25 at the Eden Project. The idea running through all of it is simple. Spending time in green spaces, and building a relationship with nature, is good for your health and wellbeing.

The course runs over six sessions and is aimed at 18 to 25 year-olds. It takes a closer look at Eden’s plants and landscapes and teaches basic techniques for taking better images. It is built for complete beginners, so there is no expectation that you already know your way around a camera.

The thinking behind it is that turning your attention outwards, and using your device to capture what you see, is a way to reconnect with nature and lift your wellbeing at the same time. Eden’s plants are the subject matter, and the images are yours to keep and revisit whenever you want.

What you will learn

Sessions cover the basics like composition and lighting. Short practices give you the chance to explore, choose what to photograph and try out new techniques in your own images. It is hands-on rather than a lecture.

The sessions are designed to be social. Groups spend time together and share what they notice in Eden’s gardens, guided by friendly facilitators who bring the knowledge and set the activities. You just bring along your phone, camera or tablet to take pictures.

When and where it runs

The course takes place on selected Saturdays from 10.30am to 12pm. You meet in the Visitor Centre Café at 10.30am, and the group explores the Biomes and gardens, and sometimes the outer estate. Full details are sent through once you book.

Temperatures vary a lot across the site, so layers are the sensible option. The Rainforest Biome is hot and humid, while the Mediterranean can be warm on a sunny day and cold under grey skies. You will be walking outside, so bring shoes suitable for walking, a bottle of water and, of course, your camera phone or another device.

How to book

The course is free thanks to funding from the Cornwall Community Fund, and booking is essential. To sign up, email [email protected] or call 01726 818550. You will be sent an application form to complete, and the team can help you fill it in over the phone. Let them know about any additional needs, including allergies, so they can shape the experience around you.

More for young people

The photography course sits alongside other work funded by the Cornwall Community Fund. The Eden Project also runs bespoke programmes with local organisations for young people who are experiencing, or at risk of, poor wellbeing and do not have access to green spaces.

Those activities range from bushcraft, growing and foraging for food to crafts and experiences inside Eden’s Biomes. The aim is to help young people rediscover their relationship with nature, reignite their curiosity, and understand both what nature can do for them and what they can do for nature. Anyone wanting to know more can contact [email protected].

📷Credit: Eden Project