The Eden Project

If you are planning to take a trip in Cornwall, you should not miss one of its famous spots – The Eden Project. It has been known as “The Living Theatre of Plants and People”.

Make your vacation an unforgettable one by experiencing the wonders and beauty of Mother nature. Almost 8 million visitors already witnessed this fascinating world of plants and people, since it opened in 2001. The Eden Project is your gateway to moving a step back and remind yourself about the co-existence of nature and humans.

A wide range of plant species is housed in a dramatic global garden – which is about the size of thirty football pitches. This garden nestles like a lost world in a crater overlooking St. Austell Bay. Apart from the breath-taking ambiance inside The Eden Project – be further impressed by what you find outside.

You will view the landscaped grounds of tea, lavender, sunflowers and hemp. Learn other related facts and processes all involving the plant life – from paper to wine, perfume to brewing, plants and medicine to plants in construction. Surely you will appreciate The Eden Project as it tells you a hundred plant stories.

The Eden Project Highlights

The Outdoor Biome

As you arrive the place, you will immediately see to the left – the Rainforest Biome and to its right – the Mediterannean Biome. These two indoor biomes are surrounded by the Outdoor Biome. The Outdoor Biome represents the temperate world including America, Europe, some parts of Asia – and of course, Cornwall.

This place is not just all plants – to the left in front of the Rainforest Biome, you will witness the famous lake. This lake is known as the typical venue of Eden Sessions – The Eden Project’s outdoor summer outdoor programme. On winters, you will enjoy the lake as it will serve as the covered ice rink – where the seasonal activity named “Time of Gifts” is held.

More sections to see in here are The Visitor Centre Building – located behind and The Eden Project’s Core – which you find to the right. This is the copper-clad roof considered as The Eden’s Education Centre.

The Rainforest Biome

The Rainforest Biome – which is one of Eden’s two covered biomes – is considered as the world’s biggest greenhouse. In an area of 15, 590 square metres – it has dimensional width of 100 metres, length of 200 metres and height of 55 metres.

See the tropical plants of The Eden Project – which include rubber, coffee, bananas and giant bamboos. You do not only witness what the tropical plants are but also experience the feel being in a tropical island as the temperature is set to range from 18 to 35°C.

With the humidity maintained by a waterfall and a network of misting sprays, you definitely will enjoy the tropical nature adventure like you’re really there.

This is a unique and magnificent place delivers to you the tropical feel effectively because the Rainforest Biome do not rely only on the regulated computerised systems. The natural properties of the environment are also major factors. This is mainly provided by the rear cliff wall that absorbs heat from the sun during the day and then releases the heat later at night.

Of course, the tropical concept will not be complete if not because of the plants themselves which help control the sphere by releasing moisture to cool the air, especially when it gets too warm.

The Mediterranean Biome

If you want to experience the natural landscapes of the Mediterranean as seen in California and South Africa, The Mediterranean Biome is the place to be. It has an area of 6,540 square metres with dimensions of 65 metres in width, 135 metres in length and 35 metres in height.

Within the sphere, see the different Mediterranean plants which include olives, fruits, aubergines and peppers. In this biome, you can also see ‘The Rites of Dionysus’ by the Falmouth-based sculptor Tim Shaw.

The Eden Project exceptionally achieved this whole concept because the fundamental element considered as high priority is the arts.

The Eden Project truly believes that beauty of nature should be witnessed and experienced first-hand by humans as this statement serves as its principle: “..we aim to blur the perceived line between the creative and the scientific and use art to illustrate the vital link between plants and people.”

The Core

The Core is the new education centre opened by The Eden Project in September 2005. This was creatively designed to emulate the rules of nature that govern plant growth. It is built with a central trunk and canopy roof. As you gaze up, you will see the interesting details of the roof with its form made with intricate web of curved timber beams.

This brilliant idea is based on the Fibonacci spirals – which is a pattern that is found in many natural forms including those in snail shells and pine cones.

Another wonderful structure created is the Plant Engine – a giant glass sphere which is directly ahead. The creative mind behind this the artist, Will Jackson. Inside the sphere, you will learn and witness a fast-growing tobacco plant maintained by a 4,000-watt lamp – which serves as the “sun” to provide warmth.

A great technology is innovated on it by utilising the oxygen produced by the plant. The oxygen is fed through flexible pipes to bell jars that contains automata – which are mechanically animated puppets. This place is well taken care of and monitored with the sensors – which record the plant’s levels of oxygen production and carbon dioxide absorption.