Tuesday 7 July 2015

The Garden of Eden



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Since working at Griffin and being introduced to the amazing geodesic dome “Pods” at Loveland Farm I have grown quite fond of these amazing structures. Inside they are so tranquil and calming, it’s hard not to see why they have become so popular and offer a futuristic escape from the modern world.


Last Easter, my mum and her partner came down to visit me in Devon. I had been dying to visit The Eden Project and given my mums love of plants and gardens this was the perfect opportunity to see the amazing structures of the Eden domes and the incredible plant life within.









First stop was The Core building, which is based on the structure of a sunflower. Inside there were plenty of activities for kids, all centred on climate change and plant resources. Inside the heart of the Core building was an amazing seed-shaped sculpture created by Peter Randall-Page. One of the biggest sculptures in history made from a single piece of rock, the Seed is made out of a single piece of granite, its surface has been carved with 1,800 nodes in the pattern of a Fibonacci spiral.













We then had a quick wander (trying to avoid the rain!) through the gardens and into the Rainforest Biome, home to the world’s largest indoor rainforest. Once inside you really get such an incredible sense of space, and immediately feel the heat and the humidity of this incredible environment.








Walking around the four forests replicating those from Tropical Islands, Southeast Asia, West Africa and Tropical South America, there was so much to take in! Nestled away are these traditional West African totems were carved by sculptor El Anatsui out of charred timbers recycled from a part of nearby Falmouth docks that were destroyed by fire. Their faces were just too much.







There were so many beautiful plants and flowers everywhere; you really got a sense of tranquillity and felt as if you were a million miles away. Between the plants and spread throughout the dome were reminders of our impact on these fragile eco systems. There was information on banana production and the chemicals they are treated with, a “Food or Fuel” sign presenting the possibility for ‘green’ biofuel made from sugar cane juice, and an exhibition looking at issue of using unsustainable palm oil to name a few.











You really went away with a true feeling of how amazing our planet is and the Eden Project does a great job at informing you of your impact, however big or small it may be. By showing people in such an interactive and informative, hands-on way. It’s hard not to come away without thinking about our relationships with plants and how we are over using and mistreating our precious global resources. The Eden Project is a great example of helping us to connect in new, interesting ways to bring sustainability into our daily lives. Definitely worth a visit!