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The amazing Eden Project,
near St Austell, Cornwall, England, is probably one of the biggest
horticultural challenges ever undertaken. It is an immensely large
environmental complex built to display the diversity and riches of
the world. The vision is to re-create the major elements of the
world’s flora, and to integrate into that re-creation a
concentration on people’s relationship with plants. But Eden is much
more than a theme park; it is about connecting plants, people and
places, a living example of regeneration.
Although relatively new, it
has quickly become one of the most popular visitor attractions in
the United Kingdom; from all over the world the stream of tourists
is increasing. Since the site was opened to the public in March
2001, Eden has seen nearly seven million visitors.
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The complex at this
stage includes giant, transparent domes, each emulating a
natural biome, that house a dazzling array of plant species from
around the world. The largest dome, the Humid Tropics Biome, is
for tropical plants, and is kept at tropical temperature; the
Warm Temperate Biome houses warm temperate and arid plants,
whilst the Outdoor Biome represents the temperate regions of the
world. |
The sheer size of the biomes
is overwhelming. They are constructed from a tubular steel frame
with mostly hexagonal transparent panels made from a complex plastic
known as ETFC. The structure is completely self-supporting, with no
internal supports, and takes the form of a geodesic structure. The
panels vary in size up to 9 m across.
The project is constructed
in a vast disused china clay pit. Visitors approach from the car
parks at the top of the quarry to the entrance area, half-way down a
gently sloping side. Once in the complex, there is a meandering
path, with views of the biomes and of interesting planted landscapes
and sculptures. At the bottom the visitor enters the biomes.
The whole project is
extremely environmentally aware. It recycles as much as possible,
whilst the massive amounts of water required to create the humid
conditions of the Tropical Biome are all sanitized rain water that
would otherwise collect at the bottom of the quarry. They have Green
Tariff Electricity – energy coming from wind turbines.
Eden’s landscape is a living
thing, constantly changing and developing. The latest milestone is
the unveiling of the monumental £15 million education centre known
as The Core. It will be home to exhibitions, events for all,
and Eden’s pioneering schools programmes.
Visitors can get to Eden by
train from London, or by its dedicated green buses running regularly
from stations all over Cornwall. Travelling by car, the M5
southbound merges with both the A30 and A38 routes, taking you to
Eden. Admission tickets cost £18.60 for adults, £10.00 for seniors,
£5.00 for a child, and £34.00 for a family of 2 adults and up to 3
children. Tickets can be bought on-line (www.edenbookings.com),
are open dated and do not expire.
- Manie Wolvaardt
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