We were quite excited to be visiting the Eden Project. Vic more so than me, as she definitely has the green thumb in our household. However, I had read and heard quite a bit about it and it seemed to be a fantastically futuristic project.
I was expecting to see great big, towering domes on the hillside, like a beacon beckoning you onward. It is, in fact, an old abandoned quarry hidden in a valley. Pay attention or you’ll drive right by…
The Tropical and Mediterranean domes are enormously tall at 50 metres high. Each dome is constructed of ‘soft shell’ (air-filled sacks) which insulates the interior. This makes it possible to recreate tropical climates in northern Europe. The plant and vegetable gardens outside make it a great big nursery for plantlife…
Cleverly set up towards educating the youth, there is a theatre and exhibits explaining our impact on the planet. We really need to be more aware of the intricate balance in these ecosystems.
Undeniably, the large structures are imposing from the outside. Inside the ‘Tropical’ biodome, you are transported into central America in hot, humid and very green jungle.
There is a huge diversity in the Mediterranean dome from Africa to southern Europe. Grapevines and twenty varieties of chilli peppers… There is a thoughtful exhibit outside motioning us to be more aware of our consumption in a ‘throw-away’ society.
What to do with our waste? Think, before we buy, consume and discard.
As a theme park focussed on plantlife it is a great educational tool. If you’re an avid gardener then it is definitely worth a visit. It is also a great day out for the kids and they should come away having learned something.
