The final place that I want to introduce you to that we visited on our holiday was The Eden Project. Again, it was somewhere that I had wanted to visit for ages, being a combination of educational project and gardens, plus all the pictures make it look spectacular. It was created in a huge, disused china clay pit and was the idea as the same man, Tim Smit, who was there at the beginning of the restoration of Heligan. They claim to have ‘the largest rainforest in captivity’ within their geodesic domes and the whole project seems to be based on superlatives. If you want to know about the history of the project, there’s lots to see and read on their web site; do check it out.
We loved seeing the Mediterranean and rainforest plants – a few of which, like the Coco de Mer, we had seen in their native habitats – but in fact the outdoor plantings were a joy too. It was great to see gentle education in the form of information boards and interactive displays as well as the groups of school children engaged in a whole range of activities. The project is about much more than plants – it highlights all sorts of aspects of caring for the environment from conserving habitats to reducing consumption… all in all a project after my own heart.
It’s such a big and diverse site that even spending two days there, as we did, was not really enough. Like Heligan, we will certainly be back. And, like Heligan, pictures will probably give you a much better flavour of the place than hundreds of words…
First some outdoor shots:
And then, in the biomes:
Like Heligan, I highly recommend a visit… or two… or three…
The Snail of Happiness 
nanacathy2
/ May 29, 2016Thanks for showing your lovely pictures.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 29, 2016It’s a pleasure… and I took SO many!
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Pat
/ May 29, 2016I see they have a sense of humor. “Industrial Plant” 😉 Stunning place!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 29, 2016Yes – some fun stuff too.
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Ann
/ May 29, 2016Ditto last post…. XX
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 29, 2016🙂
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Wild Daffodil
/ May 30, 2016Thank you for virtual visit, great photos. I can’t believe I haven’t been there yet – it is definitely on the priority list now.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 30, 2016Really, really worth a visit!
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katechiconi
/ May 30, 2016Fun to see some familiar foliage in the domed section! Another one I always wanted to see…. too late now!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 30, 2016Ah, but you have the real thing!
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katechiconi
/ May 30, 2016True enough… But I love to see things collected, assembled, and displayed in a well considered way rather than just plonked down in my back yard!
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katythenightowl
/ May 31, 2016Wonderful pics, as usual 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 31, 2016Thank you!
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Chas Spain
/ June 1, 2016Hi Jan great to come by via the new Sisterhood! The Eden Project is so wonderful – we went a couple of times with the kids – once when it was still in construction. Everything must have grown and filled out now – must be just amazing.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ June 1, 2016I had never been before… but I do rather wish I had seen it in its earlier days. It is truly jaw-dropping what has been achieved there.
I’m so looking forward to reading about all the contributions from the sisterhood… and then seeing them for real when the book finally arrives with me. Happy days!
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Chas Spain
/ June 1, 2016Hi Jan I’ve just added you to the map! I hope you like the picture I chose – but please let me know if you’d like something else. I though everyone should have a picture until they have added their bit to the sketchbook which can also be added when in comes. Let me know if you see it OK. https://chasspain.wordpress.com/the-sisterhood-of-the-travelling-sketch-book/
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The Snail of Happiness
/ June 1, 2016Oooh lovely – the picture you chose is great 🙂
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