Looking down at The Eden Project, which sits in a recessed area that was once a clay pit, you get the feeling that you have stepped into a futuristic landscape or perhaps a sci-fi movie set. It is dominated by large bubble-like biomes that feature a Mediterranean collection and a rainforest.
My expectations were not high. I had watched a video on YouTube where people were complaining that it was a bit run-down and the plantings were full of weeds. Almost every review you read complains that it is expensive. This makes sense, considering that it cost over 100 million. On a positive note, Eden Project receives over 1 million visitors per year and has contributed over 1 billion to the Cornwall economy. I was prepared for a highly commercial endeavor and lots of people and kids.
But... it turned out differently and I would encourage anyone visiting the area to take a look. I did not see any weeds. In fact, I saw lots of workers busy planting the beds that lead down to the biomes. Maybe they had seen that same video...
We were there right as they opened and the crowds were not bad at all. As for expense, I did not eat anything or buy any souvenirs, so I could not comment on that.
The road leading to the entrance meanders back and forth and it is quite the trek. Along the way are nice plantings, vegetable gardens, bee condos, etc. And you have the gigantic domes looming down below.
As I mentioned earlier, there are two major areas - the Mediterranean and the Rainforest. I explored the Mediterranean biome first. Another cool item - they have one of the world's largest zip wires and you could gaze up outside the dome ceilings and see people whizzing by on them. Again, a very futuristic feeling! It was tempting but I didn't explore that feature. How fun does this look -
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| Photo courtesy The Eden Project |
Back to the plantings -
Leaving the Mediterranean gardens, you hike down to the Rainforest Biome, which covers 3.9 acres. Here were palms, banana trees, bamboo and lush tropical plants -
The feel here was much different and it was very, very humid.
The Eden Project opened in 2001, after taking 2 1/2 years for construction. There are more projects in the works, all over the world. It is fascinating and lots of fun.
(Visited May 14, 2025)
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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