Eden Project
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Recommendation added: 26/03/2006 12:02
By: jsimons128 (YSUK rating +93)jsimons128 has been thanked 1 times for this contribution
"Interest in this mammoth £86 million project was so great that half a million visitors came during 2000 just to see it being built. Its now fully opened, if not completely finished: several features are likely to grow over the next few years. Originally intended to be the worlds largest greenhouse, it's like a space-age version of Kew gardens, focusing on how plants from around the world affect us all, with enough unexpected features to stop it seeming worthy or dull, and a design that rarely fails to impress visitors of all ages. The 35-acre site is a conversion of an old china clay pit, from where you'll have your first view of the places most dramatic features, the huge conservatories (called biomes) that look like domes made from a silvery bubble wrap designed for an alien landscape. Constructed with massive hexagonal panels that slot together like a giant Meccano set, these are amazing to walk through, particularly the bigger humid tropics biome, which effortlessly fits in a re-created rain forest, lagoon and 25-metre waterfall, with all the plants you'd expect to find in that kind of environment (and maybe some birds and insects too, and even lizards).The colorful warm temperate biome features plants from the Mediterranean and California, while outside are developing gardens showcasing what you'd find in a temperate climate like that of Britain, or the Himalayas. But this isn't simply a glorified garden centre: the displays explain how people live in various climates, and how plants are used for food, medicine, and to make everything from tires to toothpaste and trainers, they've worked hard to make it interesting: instead of putting the information on boards and things to read., the points are made rather more inevitly with art, sculpture, or music-perhaps pigs carved from wood, a live band, or a big sampling of teas from around the world. What impresses most is the staff-friendly and always ready to explain things in an accessible and interesting way. It's a joy in winter, but the humid tropics biome can feel very warm at other times, so don't wear your chunkiest jumper in this part: there's an air-conditioned cabin tucked in amongst the trees if it gets too much. There is a train that goes down to the centre, there are giant bees and robots made from scrap metal and keyboards etc, and there are many restaurants."
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