Eden Project
Bodelva, Cornwall
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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. |
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Hybrid Sunflower
Pam
Brophy
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Other Pictures
Map/Plan of Eden Site (PDF)
Further information Grid
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Planning Grid
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Location: |
Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall |
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Grid Reference: |
SX050548 |
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Getting there: |
From the M5 at Exeter go straight onto the
A30. Well signposted from A30, A390 and A391 |
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Access: |
Via Lift from visitor centre with Land Train
travelling around site, or you can just walk. |
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Parking: |
FREE Car Parks, large parking area with a
park-and-ride bus to take you to entrance. |
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Facilities: |
Park 'n' Ride bus, Land Train to get around
site. 8 eating establishments, shop, Picnic areas |
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Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
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What to take: |
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Nature highlights: |
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Address: |
Eden Project Ltd
Bodelva
Cornwall |
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Postcode: |
PL24 2SG |
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Telephone: |
01726 811911 |
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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 |
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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. |
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Photo Restrictions: |
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Other Restrictions: |
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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. |
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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. |
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Children Facilities: |
5 play areas around the site, interactive
trails, plenty of children distractions as you walk around. |
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Dogs Allowed: |
Only guide dogs allowed. |
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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.
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