RHS FEATURE GARDEN

Eden Project Morecambe

location

Eden Project

Project Brief & Location Context

Expanding on our conceptual work from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Harry Holding Studio is designing the permanent public realm at the new Eden Project Morecambe—a 1.6-acre arrival garden and community gathering space situated on the coast of Northern England. Developed hand-in-hand with local community groups, architectural partners Grimshaw, and Michaelis Boyd Associates, the project invites visitors to engage directly with green industries, education, and nature.

Site Challenges & Landscape Strategy

Creating a thriving coastal landscape in an exposed bay environment demands rigorous planning. The design addresses high winds, saline soils, and complex water management through robust landforms and carefully positioned micro-climates. Curving paths and dune-like topography help shelter visitors while drawing the wide, open skies of Morecambe Bay into the core of the visitor experience.

Materials & Sustainable Infrastructure

Every material choice anchors the site deeply into its geographic and environmental identity:

Pioneering Paving: Sustainable 'Clam-crete' (shell-based concrete) paths that recycle local marine byproducts.
Water Management: A central reflective pool and hidden attenuation reservoirs that capture and manage rainwater naturally.
Community Structures: Bespoke shelters built in partnership with Michaelis Boyd Associates to offer year-round public refuge.

Planting & Ecological Vision

The landscape features dense, wildlife-rich coastal meadows interlaced with salt-tolerant perennials, grasses, and edible species. Designed for longevity and low maintenance, the planting introduces children and adults alike to sustainable horticulture, boosting local biodiversity and creating an evolving, living classroom.

The Outcome

Scheduled for completion in March 2027, the Eden Project Morecambe public realm represents a landmark achievement in ecological landscape design. It translates temporary exhibition concepts into a permanent, living legacy that will serve the local community, support regional wildlife, and inspire environmental stewardship for decades to come.

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The experience is immersive. Curving paths and dune-like landforms weave through ecological coastal meadows, with salt-tolerant, wildlife-rich planting interlaced with edible and useful species. Shell-based concrete (Clam-crete) underfoot roots the garden in place. At the centre, a reflective pool and reservoir manage rainwater while drawing down the big bay skies. A community shelter by Michaelis Boyd Associates offers refuge, while the Chelsea solar pavilion anchors an education hub and learning space. Sweeping lawns and engaging planting open up room for play, gathering, picnics and events - co-created with local partners to serve this place well into the future.