Birmingham joins in as millions of friendly neighbours come out for The Big Lunch

The UK’s wettest spring on record provided an especially lush setting for those getting outdoors! From an allotment project in Tamworth, West Midlands, where organisers grew their own veggies to serve on the big day, to Kirkcaldy, Scotland where people enjoyed a ‘Sow and Grow’, a primary school in Belfast opening their Pollinator Garden, a Merseyside ‘eco-therapy’ community garden highlighting the wellbeing benefits of getting outdoors, to Bude’s natural sea pool in Cornwall – people taking part embraced the chance to make connections with each other and with nature.

Picking up Eden Project’s top eco tips also saw lots of organisers adding other ideas including planet positive recipes for dishes to share and upcycling and recycling to make decorations - like the people at London’s Holborn Community Association who, led by creative maker Gemma Lloyd, had fun crafting bunting using scrap fabric before tucking in to a vegan curry together.

The Big Lunch creates an opportunity to come together in our communities to celebrate our differences and the things we have in common. In Barrow in Furness people at a local library enjoyed an Age UK choir and celebrated young volunteers in the community, sharing fun that spanned generations, while in Sutton a community food project served dishes from cultures represented locally - from Hong Kong to Ukraine and Brazil to India.

Meanwhile, a Big Lunch in Llandrindod Wells, Wales took the form of a Big Battle, with challenges including boat races and obstacle courses, interspersed with a special Big Lunch that gave everyone a chance to celebrate their strengths and skills.

Community hubs have been joining in too, with pub chain Greene King hosting more than 350 events across the UK. Kicking off this weekend – from The Tamar in Plymouth to The Maltman in Glasgow, their community celebrations will continue throughout the Month of Community in June with more of their pub Big Lunches to be found on the map at www.TheBigLunch.com!

Lindsey Brummitt MVO, Programme Director at the Eden Project who are behind The Big Lunch, said: “With the election noise building, this weekend proves that The Big Lunch is the party that’s right up everyone’s street! Royal occasions, including our patron HM The Queen’s coronation, have meant The Big Lunch has seen a phenomenal turnout over the past two years, so it’s really encouraging to see that community spirit has shone through again this year! Whatever the weather, people have come out to share a bite to eat and get to know each other better, with many inspired to be part of the greenest Big Lunch yet. As well as getting together to share friendship, food and fun, it’s brilliant that more people are taking planet positive action! The Big Lunch has kicked off the Month of Community, so if you missed out this weekend why not join in to support a cause you care about this June? Find everything you need to get started at TheBigLunch.com!”

Since it started in 2009, an average of 7 million people take part in The Big Lunch each year, making it the biggest annual act of community friendship in the UK. It’s an idea from the Eden Project made possible by The National Lottery. Since 2010, we’ve been bringing people together to create happier and healthier communities thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes right across the UK.

In 2022 and 2023 The Big Lunch became an official part of national celebrations with over 30 million people coming out to share food in a nationwide act of community friendship as part of The Big Jubilee Lunch and the Coronation Big Lunch, with over £35m raised for charity. The Big Lunch is supported by patron HM The Queen, and ambassadors including Ainsley Harriott MBE and Dame Prue Leith and comedian Jo Brand. It kicks off the #MonthOfCommunity when good causes come together to encourage community action and fundraising throughout June.