What’s Happening Inside the Rainforest Dome on Earth Day? BBC to Air New Lesson from Cornwall’s Eden Project

Children across the UK invited to explore the water cycle from inside the world-famous Biome

The Eden Project’s spectacular Rainforest Biome will take centre stage on Earth Day (Monday 22nd April) as it becomes the setting for a special BBC Live Lesson, which will be available to stream from 09:00 on the BBC Teach website and then broadcast at 11:00 on CBBC and BBC iPlayer.

Explore the Water Cycle with Naomi and Lizzie

Filmed entirely inside the tropical environment of the Rainforest Biome, the lesson is hosted by Naomi Wilkinson and Lizzie Daly. Aimed at children aged 7 to 11, the programme takes viewers on an engaging trip through the rainforest, tracing the path of the water cycle and discovering why this natural process is crucial for all life on Earth.

Throughout the session, children will be invited to solve clues and take part in curriculum-linked interactive activities, helping to reinforce their understanding of the different stages of the water cycle.

Although part of the BBC’s Live Lessons series, this episode is pre-recorded, not broadcast live. It will be accessible to teachers and pupils in the classroom or at home throughout the day.

Eden’s Ongoing Educational Mission

Robbie Kirkman, the Eden Project’s education team lead, also features in the lesson. Robbie has been livestreaming educational content from the Biome to schools around the world over the past two years, covering themes like biodiversity, sustainability, and climate change.

“Education is at the heart of everything we do here,” said Robbie. “Through our educational mission, we look to connect future generations to nature and encourage them to see themselves as part of the natural world. Our programmes empower young people to better understand how they can help nurture and protect the planet. We were delighted to welcome the BBC Live Lessons team to film a lesson with us – particularly for Earth Day, which shines a spotlight on all that we believe in.”

Kate Lennon, executive producer at BBC Teach, added: “We’re pleased to be marking Earth Day with an exciting Live Lesson about the water cycle and its vital role in sustaining life on the planet. Working with the Eden Project provides a stunning location to help us bring the topic to life.”

What Is Earth Day?

Earth Day is marked every year on 22nd April and is dedicated to raising awareness about environmental protection and sustainability. First launched in 1970, it now unites over one billion people in nearly 200 countries around the world.

This marks the second year in a row that the Eden Project’s Rainforest Biome has been featured in national Earth Day programming – following a 2024 ITV Loose Women Earth Day special also filmed at the site.

More to Come: Rainforest Big Lunch Lesson on April 25

On Thursday 25th April, the Eden Project will host a second Live Lesson, this time centred on its food-sharing celebration, The Big Lunch.

During the lesson, children from Key Stages 1 and 2 will hear the ‘Rainforest Big Lunch’ story, solve riddles and discover iconic rainforest plants. The session aims to explore the connection between tropical rainforests and the foods commonly eaten in the UK, in the run-up to The Big Lunch on 7th and 8th June.

For more information, visit www.thebiglunch.com.

Reaching Thousands of Learners

In the last 12 months, the Eden Project has welcomed more than 31,000 school children for on-site educational visits, offering everything from independent teacher-led exploration to fully guided, curriculum-aligned workshops.

Their digital reach is even broader, having connected with nearly 75,000 online learners through virtual workshops, livestreams, and downloadable educational resources.

To find out more about learning at the Eden Project, visit www.edenproject.com/learn.