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Eden Project

Bodelva, Cornwall

Featured Location Guide

Eden is about connecting plants, people and places, its about our relationship with and dependence on plants. Much of our food, clothes, shelter and medicines come from the plant world. Without plants there would be no oxygen for us to breathe, no life on earth. . It is a living demonstration with more than 1,000,000 plants representing 5,000 species from many of the climatic zones of the world. Many of the plants can grow in the mild conditions of Cornwall, while others need greenhouses and that is where Eden's two gigantic Biomes - the biggest conservatories in the world - come in.  On a visit you will also come across a number of art works and installations which they hope will make you think about what you are seeing.

Panoramic View of The Eden Project, Cornwall    Jergen Matern

It has been created within the depths of a reclaimed china clay pit and contains two large biomes, and The Core and educational centre. The largest of it's two biomes covers an area of 15,590 sq meters, is 100m wide, 200m long and 55m high, big enough to hold the Tower of London.

Outside crescent-shaped terraces tell the story of plants that have changed the world and those which could change our future too. While the biomes not only contain plants and walkways but also water features and cascades.

What can you see:

The Rainforest Biome (largest) - Trek through the steamy rainforests of Malaysian, West Africa and South American and within this dome you will find a smallholding which grows cocoa and chocolate, a huge trading ship and an Malaysian back garden intermingled with plants from these areas.

The Mediterranean Biome - The home of the Mediterranean, California and South Africa showing how plants can survive on drought and poor thin soils. Her you will find aubergines, citrus plants and the wild west of California, cork, grape vines and fruits of the Mediterranean, olives and peppers as well as sunflowers and tobacco plants.

The Outside Biome - See here the crops that grow in our local climate and provide food, fuel, medicine and materials. Plants used for beer and brewing, colours and dyes, minerals from the earth, lavender, Cornish crops, hemp, tea and those alive in myth and folklore and wild flowers from across the world.

Wildlife - the covered Biomes house insects, butterflies, birds and some lizards and their function is to provide pest control.

For children: Interactive trails, 5 play areas and on the way down Eden's zig-zag paths there are kid shortcuts which can take them over wooden stepping stones, using swingy rope handles, look and see peep holes.

There are exhibitions showing how plants can be used in the production of consumer goods and you can follow specific trails such as music, and food, an educational experience for all the family.

Hybrid Sunflower

  Pam Brophy

Other Pictures

See Larger Image See Larger Image
The Bee

The Core Educational Building

  Hugh Venables

See Larger Image See Larger Image
A View from the Viewing Platform  Grasswoman

Map/Plan of Eden Site (PDF)


Further information Grid

Location:

Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall

Ceremonial County: Cornwall

Grid Reference:

SX050548

Map Link:

StreetMap

Aerial photo: Google Aerial Photo

Route(s):

 

Best Times to Visit:

Open all year, the biomes are not affected by the British weather.

E-mail:

 

Website:

www.edenproject.com

Other useful websites:

Map/Plan of Eden Site (PDF)

Nearby Locations:  
Other Relevant pages:  

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Planning Grid

Location:

Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall

Grid Reference:

SX050548

Getting there:

From the M5 at Exeter go straight onto the A30. Well signposted from A30, A390 and A391

Access:

Via Lift from visitor centre with Land Train travelling around site, or you can just walk.

Parking:

FREE Car Parks, large parking area with a park-and-ride bus to take you to entrance.

Facilities:

Park 'n' Ride bus, Land Train to get around site. 8 eating establishments, shop, Picnic areas

Things To Do, See and Photograph:

 

What to take:

 

Nature highlights:

 

Address:

Eden Project Ltd

Bodelva

Cornwall

Postcode:

PL24 2SG

Telephone:

01726 811911

Opening times:

Open every day expect 25 and 26 December

28 Feb-27 Mar 9am-4.30pm last entry 3pm
28 Mar-30 Oct 9am-6pm last entry 4.30pm

Some Biomes can close early for private functions - check website

Charges:

Adults £20; Child (5-16) £7.50; Child (0-4) FREE
Concessions/Seniors/Students £14. These are on the door prices they have slightly cheaper rates for buying in advance online. See website for details.

Photo Restrictions:

 

Other Restrictions:  
Special Needs Access: Hard core services, Land Train to get visitors around site and a lift at the Visitor Centre to get down to the main area.
Special Needs Facilities: Carers of disabled visitors FREE entry. Disabled parking is available. Wheelchairs available (manual & power assisted). Wheelchair friendly lift and Land Train from visitor centre down onto site. Disabled toilets in the visitor centre, the core and the link.
Children Facilities: 5 play areas around the site, interactive trails, plenty of children distractions as you walk around.
Dogs Allowed: Only guide dogs allowed.

Please let us know any other information that we can add to the Further information and Planning Grids or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have any good photographs that you feel would improve the illustration of this page then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you quote both the Page Ref and Topic or Section references from the Grid below. To print the planning grid select it then right click and print the selected area.

Please submit information on locations you discover so that this system continues to grow.

 


By: Tracey Park Section: Gardens Section Key:
Page Ref: Eden Topic: Gardens Last Updated: 03/2011
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This page:

Link directly to this page, with text or the button on right.

Text linking: The Eden Project on Photographers Resource

Linking Instructions                            http://www.photographers-resource.co.uk/

Photographers Resource, all the information for the photographer