Day 20 - Eden Project - on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

With three days left in our trip to England, Pam and I decided to take in the Eden Project.    Completed in 2001 by reclaiming a Kaolinite pit in St Blazey, the Eden Project is a tourist attraction focused on environmental education.  At the center of the project are two huge domes, each consisting of hundreds of hexagonal and pentagonal, inflated, plastic cells supported by steel frames.

The attraction consists of five areas:

1. Visitors Centre - where visitors are greeted, educated and fed.
2. Rainforest Biome - a 3.9 acre, 180 ft high, 656 ft wide enclosure for tropical plants.
3. Mediterranean Biome - a 1.6 acre, 115 ft high, 213 ft wide enclosure for temperate and arid plants.
4. Core - an education facility providing classrooms and exhibition spaces.
5. Outdoor Biome - consists of gardens that surround the Eden Project.

Arriving at 9:50 am from Bodmin, we spent a little over four hours, walking through each of the areas, spending lunch in their cafeteria between the Rainforest and Mediterranean Biomes.  

We enjoyed our visit!  It was cold and windy outside.  Once inside, we went right to the Rainforest Biome.  We warmed up immediately!  Recommendation: wear clothes you can layer and remove as necessary.  A backpack is a necessity!  When we finished walking through the Rainforest Biome, it was time for lunch.  After lunch, we explored the Mediterranean Biome and the Core.  We walked through the Outdoor Biome on our way back to our car.

If you are in Cornwall, we recommend a visit to the Eden Project.  Well worth your time to learn more about the living world around us!

Our first view of the Eden Project biomes.  It was cool and windy.  Note Pam in the lower right with her parka on.  She didn't need it a few minutes later when we entered the biomes!

The Balsa Eden Eco-Board surfboard is made of balsa grown in the Rainforest Biome wrapped in hemp cloth and sealed with a plant-based resin.  Once it has served its purpose, the surfboard can be composted.

Chenille Plant

Malaysian Rice

Malaysian Hut

Not sure what this plant is!

Georgeous tropical plant.  Do you know what it is?

Another beautiful tropical plant in bloom.  What is it?

Casa de Farinha - Farinha is a flour made from the root of the Cassava plant.

Oil Palm Tree is the primary source of palm oil.  Palm oil is the second to Soybean oil as the source of vegetable oil worldwide.

Rainforest Balloon used to provide scientists with a safe and nondestructive access to the rain forest canopy.

Mayeaux Tapestry: The Story of Cocoa - Check out these images.  Good for a laugh!  And to learn something new about Cocoa.

Indian Sugar Truck - Food or Fuel?  Sugar can be used for producing food as well as fuel.

Arabica coffee - Love that stuff!

Bromeliad - Just liked the flower.

The Eden Bakery where we enjoyed lunch.

The Mediterranean Biome - much cooler than the Rainforest Biome.  In this case, I mean that literally!  We were roasting in the Rain Forest!

Another unknown, but really cool spike plant.

One of many garden sculptures.

Another pretty flower.  This one in the Mediterranean Biome.

Mediterranean Biome

Aloe

Utility Box Sculpture

Just gorgeous.

Lion's Tail

Sweet William

Spider!

The Rites of Dionysus

WEE Man

Ew!

Gazebo

The Core

Strawberry Bed

Plant Processor

Beetle!