There is so much to see and do in Cornwall, with it’s surf culture, incredible beaches and delicious places to eat and drink. But for my money, one of the most fantastic attractions in Cornwall is the Eden Project. You’ll find it in a huge crater of an old clay mine in Bodelva, close to St Austell, a living educational charity and garden dedicated to sustainability and the environment.
With contemporary gardens, the Largest Indoor Rainforest in the world and a huge variety of unusual plants it’s a day out that is perfect for adults and children alike. It’s the perfect place to understand nature and the future of our planet – so here’s my essential guide to the Eden Project.
Rainforest Biome
The Eden Project is home to the largest indoor rainforest in the world, with over 1,000 varieties of different plants and a temperature of between 18-35 degrees celsius. It’s a good idea to come to The Eden Project with layers on, as I found the rainforest biome pretty warm in comparison to the Cornish summer! Inside, you’ll find four different rainforest environments – Tropical Islands, Southeast Asia, West Africa and Tropical South America and you get the chance to journey deep into the indoor jungle!
As well as admiring the plants there are a few other things to explore whilst inside. There is a canopy walkway, allowing you to experience not only the tropical climate but also see the plants from a height and a waterfall in the South American rainforest. Don’t forget to seek out the Malaysian hut and the totem pole and see if you can spot all the bananas high up in the trees!
If you are in to biodiversity there's only one place to go - here's a guide to the Eden Project.Click To TweetThe Giant Bee
The giant bee sculpture serves as a constant reminder that bees really are the key to our environmental longevity. Pollinating insects are so important to humans, plants and other animals, and over a third of our food needs pollinating insects to reproduce. What would happen is all the bees disappeared?
Mediterranean Biome
The second biome at The Eden Project is the second, slightly smaller of the two biomes and is home to plants requiring a more mediterranean climate. Slightly cooler than the rainforest biome you find over 1,000 varieties of plants from the Mediterranean, South Africa, California and Western Australia. The planting inside this biome is absolutely beautiful, as despite not living in a mediterranean climate I got a lot of inspiration for my garden at home.
You’ll find herbs here that really tickle your senses as well as giant lemon type fruits, massive aloe vera plants and in incredible mosaic path. There is also a fantastic place for some alfresco dining, meaning what every the UK weather has to offer, you can still feel like you are on holiday!
The Outdoor Gardens
The biomes themselves are placed inside beautiful landscaped gardens that was once a clay mine. When looking over from above by the entrance it is hard to believe this place hasn’t always been covered by nature. Within the outdoor gardens are over 3000 varieties of plants (set within 20,000 acres) – giving a global view of planting and flowers and nature unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
Particular highlights include allotments with huge varieties of fruit and vegetables (this definitely inspired me to grow my own veg patch) an area dedicated to wild Cornwall and plenty of places for children to explore and wander. You can also see examples of the red hot poker plant, hops and barely and hemp and learn all about them too.
The Eve Sculpture
In a secluded area of the outdoor gardens you’ll happen upon this incredible sculpture. Part of the Myth and Folklore exhibit, the sculpture is made from the clay of Eden, and is a beautiful living sculpture that changes with the seasons, her face reflecting the dappled light.
The Eden Project costs £27.50 per adult, with up to 10% off if purchased online – this also includes year round entry, so is a fantastic deal if you often visit Cornwall or live nearby. Once inside there are plenty of places to picnic, but you’ll also find a huge array of places to buy food including the mediterranean kitchen, the baobab bar, cafes and a pasty shop.
So – enjoy your visit, and don’t forget to plan it with my guide to the Eden Project before you go!
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