Eden Project

I will be making my first visit to the Eden Project in Cornwall this summer and would welcome comments on it. Also are there any do's and dont's?

 

I'll be there at the end of June Armandii. I'll be glad to post my comments when I get back.

 

Make sure you have an entry ticket before you go there - otherwise you will be queing for hours to get in.
And sensible shoes for the whole party are a must. It's a very big area and the parking is not on the doorstep.

 

Thanks Alice, that's helpful info.

 

The Eden project is brilliant. It should be classified as one of the wonders of the world I reckon.

My advice:

1. When you buy your tickets, opt in for a year's membership. Its the same price as a day ticket. All you have to do to qualify is tick the gift aid box so they can claim the tax back on your entry fee. Once you've seen it, you'll want to go again, because it is hard to cover it all in one day unless you rush.

2. Be prepared for heat and humidity. The rain forest biome is so hot and sticky you will need to keep yourself hydrated and cool. There are a couple of cold rooms in there to stop people passing out. There are also water fountains with cold drinking water which are free to use, and you will no doubt appreciate them. It's by no means unpleasant, quite the contrary its amazing, just be prepared tropical rain forest conditions.

3. Look on the website before deciding what day(s) to go. Sometimes they have shows on that are worth seeing. When I was last there a load of tibetan monks came and did some ritual thing, with lots of drumming and some massive horn thingies. I enjoyed it.

4. Read everything. Its still exellent even if you don't, but there are lots of interesting things written in plain English.

5. When entering or leaving, don't take the short route. If you do you'll miss half the outdoor stuff. Some of the mini projects they've got going on outdoors are easily as interesting as the stuff in the biomes. It's especially relevant to us in the UK (and other temperate parts) because they experiment with all sorts of ways to increase productivity in terms of food production, while staying in harmony with nature. Some of their veggy patches could easily pass as ornamental borders.

You'll come away full of new ideas, and new tricks to try in your own garden, and you'll definitely want to go again. It really is ace.

6. When you come back, watch their internet TV channel. Its really amazing the lengths that those that did it went to to make it happen. They were blocked at every step and had to fight tooth and nail all the way. Most folk would have just given up, but through sheer determination on a monumental scale they managed to pull off something amazing.

7. If you're staying in the St Austell area for a few days or more, you might also want to check out Heligan Gardens while you're there.

Enjoy.

 

Now that is a pretty conclusive do and dont list clueless... far better than my suggestion... dont eat the plants

 

some very good ideas from clueless1 there =]

I would love to go back to the Eden Project at some point

 

Thanks Clueless,

I asked for do's and dont's and that's what I got..........they're a great help.

I've just read your thread out to my husband (no gardener) and he's been put off completely. Think it was the tropical atmosphere that did it! Looks like I'll be going on my own unless someone has an idea what he can do there. Talk to the trees perhaps!

 

The rain forest is only one part of the Eden project. If rain forests aren't his thing, he can still have an excellent day without even going in the rain forest biome (although he'd be missing a treat if he stayed out). There's plenty there for all tastes.

For the gardeners
There are all manner of different mini garden projects, from purely ornamental to purely productive and everything in between. There are plantations for biofuel research with willow and reeds and various other things, plantations for research into alternative construction materials including research into alternatives to plastic. There are mini allotment plots doing it the old way, and plots taking in all the latest ideas. The list goes on and on. Then the mediteranean biome is just full of colour. Its not really hot, just a bit warm than typically british weather.

For engineering/technology enthusiasts
All sorts of fascinating black magic things are to be found all over the site, but especially in the indoor exhibition centre.

For artists/art lovers
All manner of odd works of art are there, even impressive for people like me, who just don't get the point of art. Last time I was there we saw a massive sculpture of an evil robot that was made out of all our household electrical goods that go to landfill each year, and some pointless but fascinating arrangement of pulleys and cogs and counterbalances that you could have a go of if you felt so inclined.

For scientists/science enthusiasts
All sorts of research exhibits are there, trying to figure out ways to cheaply and sustainably meet our daily needs, and other research projects for things like getting water in the desert, or increasing biodiversity under harsh conditions etc.

All that educational stuff makes it sound dull, but it is all done with added humour and fun. I challenge anybody to go to the Eden project and not enjoy it.

 

Thanks again Clueless. I'm looking forward to it even more now. Still doubtful about hubby though!

 

What is hubby concerned about?

I forgot to mention earlier, although the rain forest biome contains a mini rain forest, it doesn't contain any of the myriad of creatures that usually lurk in rain forests just waiting to cause you an agonising death. Also you don't have take a machette in to cut a path, there are perfectly good paths in there