Last week, the B-HUGs team embarked on our first trip of the academic year, a journey to the world-renowned Eden Project. As our coach drove through the countryside, leaving Exeter behind, the excitement was palpable. For many of our students, this was more than just a day out; it was a chance to see the world and their place in it through a new lens. 

We kicked things off with a game of ‘Coach Bingo,’ encouraging everyone to look out the window and spot signs of environmental activity and issues. It was amazing to see how quickly the quiet focus turned into eager shouts as students checked off items on their sheets. It set the tone for a day of active observation, not just passive sightseeing.

Upon arrival, the sheer scale of the Eden Project’s biomes was breath taking. But we quickly got to work, transforming our activity space with vibrant sounds of Afrobeats creating a familiar and uplifting atmosphere amidst the greenery. 

We had a warm welcome from one of the Eden project staff and she gave a clear run down of the history of how the Eden project came to be from a space with barely any sign of greenery to this present sanctuary of green life. It was such an enlightening experience. 

Our morning was a deep dive into scientific discovery, we split into groups for the Leaf Morphology activity, venturing into the stunning Rainforest and Mediterranean biomes. Armed with notebooks, the students became explorers, hunting for unique leaves to sketch and document. The Africana focus came alive as they traced the origins of plants, linking the lush surroundings back to specific countries and climates. It was more than biology; it was a lesson in global connection. 

After lunch, we moved outdoors for the Biofilms activity. This hands-on session saw students become field scientists, collecting samples and observing the thin layers of life that coat surfaces in nature. While they documented their findings, we wove in case studies of Black scientists in the field, making the connection between their hands-on work and real-world scientific careers. 

As we packed up for the coach journey home, these trips are about more than the activities themselves. They are about creating a space where young people of Black heritage can see their identity reflected in science and their environment. It’s about moving beyond a single Black History Month assembly and embedding a lasting sense of pride, curiosity, and possibility. 

The Eden Project is a place built in a reclaimed quarry, a symbol of regeneration and growth. In a way, that’s what B-HUGs is about too nurturing potential in often overlooked places. I left feeling incredibly hopeful, excited to see which seeds of curiosity planted today will flourish in the months to come.

-Emmanuel