The Eden Project biomes
If horticulture and nature is your thing, then you really must pay a visit to the Eden Project; it’s what we did today. Now one of the top ten visitor attractions in the country (with over 8 million visitors since it opened in 2001), the former giant clay pit just outside St Austell is home to endless families of flora and fauna from all over the world.
As the plants and seasons dictate, the place is continually changing, and this seems to be one of the reasons why visitors pay an entry fee of £14, which allows multiple visits in any one year. A fantastic site, the deep-sided bowl lends itself well to be a home for the largest greenhouse in the world, and seemingly endless crescent-shaped terraces, growing all sorts of common garden vegetables and herbs, and more exotic species. Of course, the huge sci-fi looking biomes are the recognisable faces of the Eden Project, but, in fact over 75% of the plants there grow on the outdoor terraces.
Bananas grow in the humid tropics biome
But, it was the biomes that we really wanted to see. There are only two, but as each one is divided in appearance into three, the visitor is fooled into thinking there are six. As with almost all Eden’s visitors, we headed to the larger biome first.
Home to plants normally found in humid and tropical climates, a steamy, jungle atmosphere is maintained, which allows exotic species such as banana trees, coffee bushes, pineapples, rubber trees, sugar cane, and vanilla to be grown. A large cascading waterfall runs literally runs down the centre from the top of the building, while foliage-lined sandy walkways weave their way through region-specific displays.
Although we expected it to be warm as the biome is a home to all manner of plants from the warmer climates, we weren’t quite prepared for how hot it actually was. And, I mean hot. At the top, it is sweat-dripping, and shirt-stickingly hot.
To be fair, the cool room half way around, and emergency exits should have given us a clue. It’s not just heat, though, as the humidity is just as overbearing. It certainly feels warmer than the 28 degrees it is reportedly to be. But, as we walked down and descended the paths through the biome, we regained some sort of a sense of a normal temperature.
It’s hot, hot, hot in the humid tropics biome
While the temperate biome is smaller, it is still impressive. Home to species from the Mediterranean, South Africa, and Southern California, citrus fruit rub leaves with olive trees, vegetables, and colourful flowers. Set out with Spanish-style white walls and terraces, it contrasts well with the jungle and ramshackle buildings in its larger brother. One thing was common in both biomes, though; the atmosphere was relaxed, and there was plenty of room to walk around, without jostling with other visitors to see any of the exhibits. And in these modern times, that is something to be applauded.
Another attraction that forms part of the Eden experience is The Core – Eden’s home for education, and already listed as one of the UK’s top ten buildings for using renewable energy – while the yet-to-be-built The Edge will highlight the oncoming water crisis, changes in energy supply, and impacts of climate change. To be built in a yet-to-be-reclaimed part of the pit at Bodelva, the go-ahead may be given soon.
The Eden Project was created as ‘a global garden to explore our place in nature’, and I think it is just that. The relaxed atmosphere, wealth of plants, biomes, and good food in naturalistic and ecological surroundings all meant that we certainly enjoyed our day there. And, we will look forward to walking around the gardens of Eden once again.