Green Fingers: Destination Eden

The designers tried to recreate a mini-Earth inside the biomes. There’s a huge rainforest biome (hot and steamy) and a Mediterranean biome (hot and dry). More than 2 million different plants live at Eden, not to mention a few animals.

The quarry had been supplying china clay to make porcelain cups and saucers for 160 years. When it was abandoned, it left behind a craterous eyesore. It took nearly 3 years to transform it into the Eden Project.

A record-breaking 230 miles of metal scaffolding was used to build the biomes. The outer layer is made of hexagons that neatly fit together. The largest is 11 metres across – nearly as long as a T-Rex!

Abseilers install the plastic that covers the biomes. Several layers are sealed and inflated to create a large cushion of air. This insulates the biomes, keeping the plants warm in winter.

Part of the aim of the Eden Project is to educate people about how we can live with each other and the living world to build a better future and protect planet Earth. Core to the vision is inspiring people to use Earth’s precious resources sustainably so they don’t run out.

The rainforest biome is the world’s largest conservatory – 55 metres high and 250 metres long. The air inside is kept at varying temperatures, between 35°C (hot!) and 18°C (mild). Rainforest plants need different temperatures to grow successfully. 

The rainforest biome helps visitors understand how important rainforests are, providing us with many resources and home to many different animals.

The transparent plastic hexagons let in lots of light, which the plants need to make food. The plastic pillows are much lighter than glass and if they are damaged, they won’t smash into pieces – they can be repaired with just a bit of sticky tape!

Some of the plants here grow really tall, really quickly. Bamboo can reach a height of 35 metres. To stop it growing through the plastic roof, it’s trimmed back regularly by a gardener lifted up on a cherry picker.

The plants inside this biome come from all over the world and grow in all shapes and sizes. However, the plants inside the rainforest biome have one thing in common: they love water! In a real rainforest, it rains every day. 

Here at Eden, the plants are watered three times a week. Other plants live directly in water, such as the lilies in the lily pond.

Animals live in balance with the plants and are part of the food web. Frogs and lizards eat pests that feed on the plants. Using this “biocontrol” means that gardeners don’t have to use chemical pesticides.

The Mediterranean Biome replicates the landscapes of California, South Africa and of course the Mediterranean. The climate inside the biome is hot and dry in the summer. Many of the plants here can survive in poor, thin soils with little water. 

The flowers are highly scented and brightly colored to attract pollinators.

These sculptures tell the story of Dionysus, the Greek god of the wine harvest. He started drinking grape juice but turned to wine. He is joined by his female followers, the Maenads, playing their instruments. Their name means “the raving ones”!

Not all of the 2 million plants at Eden grow inside the biomes – most are in the outdoor gardens. There are miles of paths that take you all over the old quarry that is now transformed with ornamental flowers, allotments and ...

... plants to stimulate your senses, as well as plants for fuel, medicine and materials. There are many mini-gardens, such as the Japanese garden arranged to represent different parts of the world.

Around 400 staff work at the Eden Project full time. The Horticultural team, known as the Green Team, looks after the plants; the Education team communicates how we can live in harmony with the natural world; and the Hospitality team makes sure everybody is fed.