O N T O U R: CORNWALL”S GARDEN OF EDEN
Flying over the undistinguished clay pits of south Cornwall in the mid-nineteen nineties who could have imaged that this massive site by early 2001 would be transformed in what has been called ”The Eighth Wonder of the World”.
The Eden Project is a great triumph, the product of one man”s imagination and the whole concept of the National Lottery. It has rejuvenated Cornwall in terms of tourism and will this year host getting on for two million people.
What is the Eden Project? Essentially it is a pair of massive greenhouses, the world”s largest, set in an amphitheatre of horticulture. It is also an amazing success story, the culmination of a ”90m five year undertaking that has caught the public”s imagination and is set to expand even more. Planning permission is being sought on a third greenhouse, called a Biome, which will replicate desert, the first and larger of the present pair essentially a tropical rain forest, whilst its smaller companion replicates the northern Mediterranean climate or California if you prefer. In the first there are tropical plants galore, often gathered from exotic offshore islands, whilst in the second there are orange and lemon trees, old olive groves and gnarled vines. One can take up to two hours steady climbing and descending, past the lakes and waterfall in the first Biome, whilst the other can be covered in less than half the time. The whole experience is one of education, seeing bananas and much more exotic plants growing a world away from their natural habitat. Pineapples, spices, rubber trees and rice. And food products known to the metropolitan gardener such as tomatoes (but what a variety), beetroot and strawberries.
When you arrive at the Eden Project walk down the ZigZag or one of the many paths towards the area between the two biomes, connected by The Link block, a semi-underground modernistic building with grass on the roof and offering both inside and outside restaurants. You can admire the plants and vegetation as you pass and take in the amazing scenery. Visit the left hand, Humid Tropics Biome first. It is much the larger of the pair and can get both hot and busy during the day. The Warm Temperature Biome is much easier to get around and has many more short cuts if it is at all crowded.
The outdoor area is also called a Biome and tells the story of cultivated plants that have changed the world, and wild vegetation that could change the future world. An education centre is very busy with school groups during the week and at the weekends offers a series of lectures to all.
The skill of the experts is amazing. The whole place now looks very mature but the plants themselves have come from all over the world with only 5% lost during cultivation. Many arrived as seeds or cuttings and were then raised in the Eden”s nursery. The rare plants have a story to tell. The Eden Project, whilst very much designed for the public, is also a research institute and a place for study.
The climb back from The Link to the exit can be a trifle daunting and a land bus is on offer for those whose energy has been dissipated walking around the two domes. Either way you will pass an open air theatre, the site of a series of concerts in the summer and a daily programme of entertainment. The whole place is well organised for handicapped people but visitors must take in consideration that a day out at the Eden Project is good exercise. There are plenty of eating places but for a party of four it can work out expensive. There is no restriction to bringing in your own food.
Once in west Devon or Cornwall getting to the Eden Project is easy. Sited just east of St Austell, it is however a whopping 280 miles from South Mimms at the M25/M1 junction. Allow for 5 hours including a stop. Whilst there are plenty of excellent, mainly small, places to stay closer, Plymouth is the nearest large conurbation, about one hour away and always an interesting city and excellent tourist centre. The popular Copthorne has recently been upgraded with a fine, if small, fitness centre/pool and an ideal location makes it an easy hub for a Devon and Cornwall break. It is also by the railway station and day trips to the Eden Project are offered. You can still fly (but not much longer) by British Airways from Gatwick. Newquay, which is now served by Ryanair, is another alternative and once again coach tours are available. Besides Eden there are over 50 gardens in Cornwall open to the public, each one different and of varying sizes. The Gardens of Cornwall are very organised and their web site most informative. There are entry deals available enabling visitors to take a leisurely week”s tour around some magnificent establishments. http://www.edenproject.comhttp://www.gardensincornwall.co.uk