The Eden Project

I am not sure when or how I heard about the Eden Project but, when the proprietor of the Bearslake Inn recommended that we visit it, I remembered something about it and that I wanted to see it.  Now, for some background information which, as usual, I got (and edited) from Wikipedia:

The Eden Project is a popular visitor attraction in Cornwall. There are two biomes and inside each of them are plants which have been collected from many diverse climates and environments all over the world.  A biome is a community of plants and animals that have common characteristics for the environment they exist in.  Note that the Eden Project has no animals other than some birds and, likely, insects.  The Project is located in a reclaimed china clay pit (quarry), located 5 km (3 mi) from the town of St, Austell.  The complex is dominated by two huge enclosures consisting of adjoining domes that house thousands of plant species.  Each enclosure emulates a natural biome.  These biomes consist of hundreds of hexagonal and pentabigonal, inflated, plastic cells supported by steel frames. The largest of the two biomes simulates a rain forest environment and the second, a Mediterranean environment. The attraction also has an outside botanical garden which is home to many plants and wildlife native to Cornwall and the UK in general; it also has many plants that provide an important and interesting backstory, for example, those with a prehistoric heritage.

We arrived at the site about 11 am and some of the lower parking lots were already full.  Each parking lot is named after a fruit and has 3 levels (ours was Plum 1).  We walked down the hill to the site entrance from which you then walk down further into what was the bottom of the quarry.  I need to note that the entrance fee to this amazing site is not cheap:  26 pounds (about $40) for a senior.  However, it is an education charity and social enterprise.  The site was much bigger than I thought it would be and the two biomes are huge!  Rather than use more words, I think it would be best to just show the photos I took.  There is no question the message throughout the project is sustainability and environmental responsibility.  There are educational games and messages for children as you walk through the outside property as well as through the biomes.  

So, first here are some of the photos I took as we walked down the steep hill to the domes.

 

Then, we entered them.  To the right was a walkway leading to the Mediterranean biome and the rain forest one, much larger, was to the left.  In the centre are restaurants, gift shops, lockers, washrooms, etc.  We started with the Mediterranean climate one.  Not only were some of the plants represented in this biome from the Mediterranean (ancient olive trees, grapes, etc.) but also included were plants from other similar climates like California, Western Australia, South Africa, and other such areas.  I cannot even begin to articulate or list very many of the plants we saw.  The cacti were lovely and I enjoyed seeing some of the Aussie ones.  Many I had never set eyes on before!

I have to say that it was comfortable walking around this climate "zone".  Our next stop was the rain forest one and, once we had entered that area and walked along the pathway, the temperature and humidity soared!  I haven't spent much time in jungles but one can only imagine that this is what it would be like.  There was vegetation everywhere - thick and rich!  Further, later on our walk, there was a "rooftop" walkway so you could look down on the amazing collection of vegetation from these kind of climates.  It included a rope suspension bridge.  Further, there was also a large focus on food sources.  I didn't take photos of all the plants producing nuts and spices but did capture the rice and banana plants.  There was so much to see and take in that it was overwhelming.  Further, I had never seen orchids growing the way they do!  The temperature and humidity in this biome were completely different (and way less comfortable) than the previous one.  

We spent over two hours here.  Outside, there was lots of information about the importance of bees and other insects plus there was a garden of the senses.  

I was not particularly looking forward to the long hike back up the hill but received a reprieve.  There was a little "train" that could take you back up the hill to the visitor centre but we chose for the option, an elevator.  Then, from there, there was a bus that takes visitors back up to the various parking lots.  Whew!  

We had spent over two hours here but we could easily have spent a lot longer.  As the day progressed, particularly after 1 pm, there crowds increased and, given that this is the May half-term break in the UK and children are out of school, there were lots of families here.  What a great way for kids to continue learning in such a fun environment.  If you are ever in Cornwall near St. Austell and have the time, I cannot recommend this place enough.  Clearly, we didn't have enough time but still I learned a lot!