If you are traveling around Cornwall there is one place that you should not miss. It is the Eden Project. The Eden Project is an impressive charity project which explores the interaction of humans with the nature, looks at what our future may look like and communicates the idea that regeneration of the nature is possible. It is also the world’s biggest greenhouse.

The project was visualized by Tim Smit and then designed by architect Nicholas Grimshaw and engineering firm Anthony Hunt and Associates. Davis Langdon carried out the project management, Sir Robert McAlpine and Alfred McAlpine did the construction and MERO designed and built the biomes. The project took 2½ years to construct and opened finally to the public on 17 March 2001.
The Eden project is located on the former china clay pit near the town of St Blazey which just ended its life and was uninhabitable. It took a vast amount of science and engineering to revitalize the area. Eden Project consists of three biomes and a core – an educational centre of the project with all the science behind this project on the show.

A biome is a climatically and geographically defined area of ecologically similar communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, often referred to as ecosystems. Biomes are defined based on factors such as plant structures (such as trees, shrubs, and grasses), leaf types (such as broadleaf and needleleaf), plant spacing (forest, woodland, savanna), and climate.

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Rainforest Biome

In the Eden’s Rainforest Biome there is a climate and plants which can be found in humid tropical regions of the world like Malaysia, Tropical Islands, West Africa and South America. The trek goes past various wonderful plants that grow there showing the things they give us. You and your kind will find out things like how the chocolate grows, where sugar comes from, what a cola tree looks like, as well as many more things you’ll be amazed to learn as a child or adult. The plants and crops that grow in tropical environments and rainforests are bananas, coffee, balsa, mahogany, pineapples, orchids, spices and tropical ferns. The interactive exhibitions in the biomes tell the visitors about each plants story, the connection of humanity to this far away part of the world with a bit of history, botany, horticulture and global politics.

Another important Rainforest Biome exhibition is about the environmental issues concerning the Tropical rainforests area and what difference can be made. Tropical Rainforests are called the lungs of the Earth because they absorb nearly a fifth of all man-made CO2 emissions around the world, and help greatly to decrease the effects of climate change. However, these same rainforests are being destroyed at the speed of an area the size of a football pitch every four seconds. Those forests are being burned down in order to clear land for commercial farming or mining. The problem is that while burning, those forests release all the CO2 that they collected over the years back into atmosphere and this amount of emissions is even higher than from entire global transport sector.

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Mediterranean biome

The Mediterranean is only one of five regions around the world that share its unique climate. South Africa, South West Australia, Central Chile, and California also have the Mediterranean climate. It is defined by hot and dry summers and rainy, frost-free winters. Winter and spring are the main growing seasons. These regions distinguished because they cover only 2% of the land of the Earth but hold 20% of all the plant-life. The native plants will thrive on dry and poor soils and although the climate is very similar in all Mediterranean regions of the world, each has got its unique collection of plants that will grow only in this region. The Mediterranean climate is also associated with great fruits, best wines and good crops.
In the Mediterranean Biome there are plants from around the Mediterranean Basin like citrus, olives, herbs and vines, the rich variety of the South African region’s proteas and aloes, some of colourful Californian poppies, lupines and Chaparral shrubs. The stories of this biome will tell about citrus fruits and how they are bred, cork, grape vines ,olives and how olive oil is made, how perfumers use plants and about the classic Mediterranean fresh vegetables, fruit, olive oil and a drop of red wine diet.
The Mediterranean Biome is much cooler in temperature than the Rainforest Biome, so dress in layers as you may want to put some layers back on in here and undress in tropical environment.

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Outdoor biome

The outdoor biome represents the plants from the rest of temperate world including parts of Asia, America as well as Europe. It became possible because of Cornwall’s mild climate. More than three quarters of all Eden’s plants is actually planted in the outside biomes showing how much there is more outside of their famous Rainforest and Mediterranean biomes. There are gardens showing ideas of how to grow own food and even medicine. The landscape of the outdoor biome is constantly changing and evolving with the seasons always providing the exiting show with its almost 2000 species of plants.

The Core

The Core is the name of Eden’s Education Centre, a fantastic and beautiful building that has become an inspirational hub for events, exhibitions and learning for everyone. Core is one of the most sustainable buildings in the world in built and maintenance. It’s a place of big and small shows and exhibitions, a place to grow ideas, a meeting place where you and your kids can discover, learn, do, make, play, listen, talk, communicate, participate, watch, be entertained and enjoy, whatever your age. The display scope covers everything from art and science, to interactive drawing wall. There is a café on the top floor.

Visitors information:

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Food and drink

There are several nice eating places to eat and get refreshments. They claim that restaurants and cafés at Eden offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options and do not knowingly include GM ingredients in any of  food. The eating also has got a bit of education in it: as well as enjoying the food you can also find out all about food and how it grows at Eden. Some of the food grows on the premises and the rest would come from local sources when it is possible. I guess it is difficult to visit the Eden Project without eating – it is very big and exiting and takes at least half a day to see everything.

Seating

The Eden Project has plenty of sheltered and indoor spaces as well as the great outdoors with benches and some grass picnic area.

How to get there:

Train

St. Austell is the nearest major town with a train station. It is four miles from Eden. A bus service to the Eden Project meets many of the trains coming into St. Austell. The nearest train station to Eden is Par. It is a 45 minute walk or a short taxi ride to Eden.

Bus

Eden has its own bus service which is painted bright green. Buses run regularly from St. Austell, Newquay, Helston, Falmouth and Truro.

Car

Eden is easy to get to from both the A30 and A38. There are signposts on both roads.

Walking and cycling

Walking or cycling is not the most obvious way to get to Eden but it gives you a chance to look at the countryside around us. It is also good for you and the environment. Walkers and cyclists enjoy a discount off the adult entry charge, and children under 15 accompanied by an adult come free. Make yourself known at the pre-paid ticket desk for your discount. The walk from St Austell train station is about 6 miles. There are one or two fairly steep slopes and in wet conditions the path may be muddy in some places.

Disabled:

The Eden Project is disabled friendly with lots of facilities on site, like wheelchairs or special schemes for sensory impaired visitors. All disabled facilities are free. Disabled carers will get free admission and assistance dogs are welcome.

Admission:

Adults £16.00
Senior£11.00
Students £8.00
Children £5.00
Note: there are admission discounts for walkers and cyclists!

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The Eden Project is an unforgettable experience in a breathtaking location; a global garden; a place of beauty and wonder. Our world famous architecture and art draws inspiration from nature, our educational work is about creating a positive future in a world that is going to go through radical change, and we try to ensure everyone who visits Eden leaves knowing something more about their connection to the world. That’s the big stuff…Eden is also about simple pleasures; enjoying tasty food, rediscovering what puts the great into the great outdoors, imaginative play for children, taking time to stop and smell the flowers, having a good time.

http://www.edenproject.com/