The Eden Project
OS Grid ref:- SX 049548
The Eden Project, a large scale environmental complex, is located around 3 miles from the town of St. Austell and is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the country. The attraction occupies the site of a former china clay pit and consists of two large transparent domes, called biomes, which house around 100,000 plants plant species from around the world. The Eden Project was conceived in 1994 by Tim Smit, who was also responsible for recovering the famous Lost Gardens of Heligan. It was funded by a £55.3 million grant from the Millennium Commission
The first dome, the Humid Tropics Biome, recreates a tropical environment, at over 200 metres long and up to 50 metres high it is one of the largest greenhouses in the World. It contains more than a thousand plant species, mist sprays and impressive waterfalls. The Warm Temperate Biome assumes a Mediterranean-type environment. The massive project took two and a half years to complete and contains a vast collection of exotic plants. The newest addition to the site is the Core opened by the Queen in September, 2005, it provides an educational facility.
Home to an educational and environmental charity, the Eden Trust, the project is a living theatre of plants, housing the largest rain forest in captivity, its aims are 'To promote the understanding and responsible management of the vital relationship between plants, people and resources leading to a sustainable future for all'. The Eden Project has an informative visitor centre, gift shop and restaurant and is well signposted from the A391.
Opening times
30 Oct - 26 March 10am -4pm, last entry 3pm.27 March - 29 Oct 9.15am - 6pm, last entry 4.30pm.