Spread joy this winter - Eden Project Communities

Winter warming ideas

Ideas to do in your community to share love, warmth and friendship over the darker months.

Two people are planting a plant in a wooden trough.

Games and activities

What to plant to brighten your community

A woman adding the final touches to her advent window - you can see a paper strip of houses along the bottom with paper snowflakes and trees above it.

Arts and crafts

Create magical advent windows

A group of people stand outside, all bundled up warm. They're sharing food and smiling.

The Big Lunch at Christmas

All the resources you need to host a Big Lunch at Christmas,…

A plate of delicious-looking mince pies, chocolate biscuits and gingerbread men

Winter warmer recipes

Spread joy and keep cosy over the colder months with our selection…

Illustrations of the Scarf of Kindness alternative advent calendar

Activities and e-books

Alternative advent calendar – the Scarf of Kindness

With advent calendars of all shapes and sizes flying off the shelves,…

Lanterns in front of one of the biomes at the Eden Project

Arts and crafts

Make willow lanterns

People: 3+
Age: Any

Pieces of fabric on a table ready to be made into bunting

Arts and crafts

Make advent calendar bunting

Arts and crafts

Dry orange slices for a festive garland

Mince hi

Bake or buy a few mince pies and share with neighbours, colleagues, or your wider community. Stop for a minute, say hi and make time to talk this winter.

A man stands on a doorstep proffering a plate of mince pies. He's got a huge smile on his face.

Host drop-in drinks – share an invitation and get together over mulled apple juice or hot chocolate and a few festive snacks.

Knock on a neighbour’s door with a mince pie, have a chat whilst you walk together to the next neighbour, and so on. Enjoy a wintery mince hi walk around your neighbourhood! Why not try and complete our Human Bingo and find neighbours who match each suggestion?
Download Human Bingo

Give the gift of time to someone you don’t know too well or haven’t caught up with in a while. Pop the kettle on, share some mince pies and have a chat.

Be a secret Santa and leave tasty treats on doorsteps or on desks at work.

Host a wintery activity such as making cards and decorations – bring out the tea and mince pies and get crafting together.

Share a Christmas roast dinner – invite people to bring a different part of the meal and come together for a festive feast, with all the trimmings.

Download our alternative advent calendar – the Scarf of Kindness. It’s full of easy ways to carry out acts of kindness, connect with others and spread joy.
Download Scarf of Kindness

Spare chair at your Christmas table? Invite someone that lives alone to join you for a festive meal or two.

Stories of community cheer

An advent window showing a polar bear amongst colourful fairy lights.

How I organised advent windows in my community

For Angie from Colchester, spending time in her community is part and parcel of everyday life. The 58-year-old has lived on her estate for…

A group of elderly people sit at a table pulling crackers for their Christmas lunch. They're smiling and laughing, and other tables are visible in the background.

A Big Lunch at Christmas brings the community together

How a local charity brings the community together with a shared Christmas meal.

My Festive Open House

Lindsey, our Programme Director, is on the road so much she doesn’t often have time to meet or speak to her neighbours. In Christmas…

An older woman gives a young girl a mince pie - they're both smiling and wrapped up warm. You can see a table full of delicious festive food.

The Big Lunch at Christmas

The Big Lunch brings millions of people together to share friendship, food and fun as the UK’s annual celebration for neighbours and communities.

This festive season, we’re encouraging everyone to gather neighbours, friends, colleagues or volunteers to celebrate our connections and keep our communities cosy. We’ve got all the resources you need to host a Big Lunch at Christmas, from invites to cracker templates and food flags.

Host a Big Lunch at Christmas

Sparks of joy

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ideas sown for winter warmth

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actions taken to spread joy

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people have joined us at a winter event

“We always look forward to our carol singing event – it gets everyone in the festive spirit and brings the whole community together. It’s a team effort, with the independent coffee shop providing free coffee and electricity for our local musician, and neighbours baking mince pies and stollen to enjoy.”
Marilyn

A bunch of sprouts on a table with smiley faces drawn on and an Eden Project Communities flag sticking out.

Winter warmer recipes

Spread joy and keep cosy over the colder months with our selection of winter and festive recipes.

It’s food to warm your cockles and cheer your heart!

Browse our winter recipes

Warm Welcome Spaces

We know the cold, dark months can be challenging in many ways, particularly so for those with worries about food and heating, and those who are lonely and isolated.

Our friends at Warm Welcome are ensuring everyone has somewhere warm and friendly to go this winter. They’ve got a map listing thousands of Warm Welcome Spaces where communities can gather for warmth, welcome and meaningful connections.

Why not explore your local Warm Welcome Space, it’s a great place to connect with your community and to make new friends, and if you have access to a local community space, why not list it on the Warm Welcome map?

Find out more