If you like the Eden Project, Kew gardens in London is well worth looking into, it's 300 acres of gardens with several enormous conservatories / greenhouses and a tree top walkway. It's hundreds of years old with millions of specimens
It’s an amazing place to visit. I’ve visited once a a child . It’s over 6 hours from London, so not a day trip unless you love driving , and about the same by train.
There is another reason for an American to visit Kew Gardens, it is where George III lived ( Mad King George, Farmer George ). The King who lost America. The botanical gardens holds that houses the "largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world". ruclips.net/video/3DPJW5cH8xc/видео.htmlsi=PrSGi-Pn_OYsefWC
The Eden Project Isn’t just amazing but is essential to educate future generations. Don’t think it would uphold as well here in North Wales. Too many extreme wind force sea gales and hurricane winds sometimes. You said you love Oak trees. I have one growing in an old plant pot in the garden, from a stray seed. Going to replant it in the woods where it can thrive. So important to care for every tree.🏴❤️🌎🇺🇸
The start for this was when they discovered the Heligan Estate in Cornwall which was so overgrown no one knew what was there, most of the estates gardeners etc, had died in WW1. They renewed the garden to it's former state and can be visited today, it's now known as The Lost Gardens of Heligan. I found it magical and breathtaking.... which lead to the consept of The Eden Project. Steve, you would love both..... two of many beautiful subtropical gardens in Cornwall.
Heligan & The Eden Project are not far apart, about 20 minutes drive. Big warning, if you get over here & want to visit DO NOT GO AT THE WEEKEND or when the kids are off school. My sister-in-law went to Eden a while back and it was so busy the parking was so far away they were running a shuttle bus service. OK it may have improved I'm not sure, but midweek is better & both are definitely well worth a visit. From what I've heard you say about visiting places you need to be over here for about a month you want to see so much. That part of Cornwall was famous for china clay for making pottery, hence the enormous hole in the ground & the domes that now cover it are about 55m(180feet) high & cover 29 football fields, BIG. Love the vids😊
Cornwall famous for tin mines and China clay pits, they literally scoured out the clay leaving huge white holes in the ground. This is an amazing project, started with a massive vision and passion, how they got it funded and built is beyond me. A true wonder, if you do go to the Eden project also look around the rest of the Cornish coast it is a wonderful part of England although they have their own distinct culture
Some old Tin mines may be reopened as well as having Tin and Copper ore they also have Lithium, not known about in the 18th and 19th even the 20th centuries.
Being born and raised in Cornwall I've been to Eden Project countless times as a child. It's a fantastic place to visit just prepare yourself for the sweltering humidity in the rainforest biome!
I remember visiting a few years ago, and found Sir David Attenborough in the Tropical Dome talking to a camera about the leafcutter ants in front of him. What a treat!
That is so cool! I love leafcutter ants, they're one of my all-time favourite species cos they're one of the first (but probably not THE first) farmers the planet had. Humans think we invented farming but the ants beat us to it by a few million years lol :D
Amazing , as someone who has had anxiety and depression nature is a god send , I walk in my local woods everyday and it does me the world of good . So important we look after our green spaces . 😊 💚🌳🌲🌿
You should see it in the summer. The whole exterior portion is full of bright colours from all the different flowers. There are viewing platforms right at the top of the rainforest biome and theres also a zip line across the entire pit.
I love the guide’s enthusiasm for her plants and her serious message to end on. The Eden Project is just 15 miles from my home and I’ve lost count of the number of visits I’ve made. I seem to remember English China clay was sold around the world until cheaper Chinese porcelain took over the market. We do get storms in from the Atlantic but the choice of location is perfect so even on a windy day you will feel a climate difference as you walk down from the car parks. The small train will take you back up if worn out at the end of a visit but the outside gardens are just as impressive to wander through. Definitely worth a visit Steve!
If you enjoy gardens and plants, Cornwall is excellent even by British standards. There's dozens of amazing gardens just a few miles apart. Eden project obviously, Lostwithiel, the Lost Gardens of Heligan (absolutely amazing), Trebah near Helston, Trengwainton near Penzance just a few of my favourites in Cornwall. Cornwall has enough to keep even the most demanding visitor entertained for a fortnight in itself. Outdoor theatres built into the cliffs, amazing castles and seascapes, wildlife reserves, museums, and lots of gardens. Cornwall has a beauteous climate.
I visited the Eden Project in its first year and was inspired by it (and also the Lost Gardens of Heligan, another Tim Smit project nearby). Now I have my own bio farm producing herbs and edible plants (in Belgium) without fertiliser or pesticides.
I went there on holiday 12 years ago when I was 7, and to this day I still remember the incredible heat, humidity and 'greenhousey' smell of that place. 10/10 place btw
China clay is used to make fine porcelain, I used to work at Coalport and Wedgewood potteries where they used a lot of the stuff, I don't know anything about the science of it all though, I was just an artist, not a potter, but painting fired and glazed porcelain is an incredible thing, everything needs to be perfect, you can't make any mistakes, and every brush stroke has to be confident and fluid, if you hesitate it's ruined and you have to start again, it's the most difficult job I ever had as an artist in the ceramics industry.
It’s also used to create glossy pages in magazines and I think in the production of tablets (medication) amongst a multitude of other things. China clay is one of those things that finds its way onto many ingredient lists.
I lived down the road from it when it was being built and went to it a few times it was quite an incredible thing, as you approach it you don’t really see it until you come out of the visitor centre. Also occasionally I saw a giant tree on the back of a truck drive past my house when it was being planted. I need to go back and see how much it has changed in the past 22 years
It was a mine for china clay (the stuff fine porcelain is made from). BTW, the tall plant in the background at 4:19 is a tree fern (the ponga or silver fern) which is the national plant of where I live, New Zealand. I have two of them in my back garden :) And those are basically two connected groups of geodesic domes with special "pillow" exteriors - the largest single dome is 180 feet high and 330 foot wide! The whole project covers nearly 200 acres. "Clingfilm with attitude" - I love it!
We do love our gardening , plants and accessories are a major industry and there are many magnificent examples both public and private up and down the Country , most of them are open to the public . The Eden project however is another dimension , the vision and determination to build something for the 21st century to educate and inspire the next generation.
I would argue Eden is one of the best music venues in the country, the biomes light up along with the shows and it has a limited number of guests, tickets are hard to come by but definitely worth every penny! The who this year were incredible to watch!
I watched Tim Minchin there in a storm. As he sang a particular lyric that was very funny and anti religion there was a flash of lightning and the back of the stage blew open. Everyone found it hilarious and he obviously made it into a 'bit'. Great memories
Oh ! The Eden project huh? I used to live fairly close by ( Liskeard ) and the then partner and I took the kids there. It's FANTASTIC! The kids were absolutely fascinated...by the 'hothouse' section...where they had carnivorous plants...'Venus Flytraps' and 'pitcher plants' ( that trap insects ) . Most certainly worth a visit !
One of the things she didn’t mention was the baobab tree, the fruit is harvested every year and you can try smoothies made from it, not like any fruit I’ve had before. They have tonnes of products to buy made from things they grow. Really cool place and the rainforest biome is seriously humid!
Being there is next level, the difference in humidity, temperatures and even scents just add to the experience. When you walk through the Mediterranean area and you take in the aroma, you really feel like you are in the Med. The view from the top is amazing too. One of my kids favourite day trips.
The Eden Project is a fab place to visit, I went in 2005 when I was in Cornwall for a week. The Lost Gardens of Heligan are nearby and equally beautiful, but completely different. I loved both places. As others have commented, Kew Gardens is an absolute must for anyone interested in plants. ❤❤❤
Cornwall is actually pretty windy, the UK as a whole is being an island where you can never be more than ~80 miles form the coast and Cornwall is on a peninsular and has strong historic and current connections to the sea
My husband worked for the Cornish company that did the initial ground work i.e putting the bars in the ground to strengthen it and securing the walls is the sides of the area to secure that while checking one of the drilled holes in the ground his mobile phone fell out of his top pocket straight down the hole it's still there I have a number of photo's he'd taken during his time there
The Eden Project is like no other. I am fortunate to live in Cornwall and have been several times. It never ceases to amaze. I recommend anyone living in or visiting the UK to put the Eden Project on their 'must do' list.
They are expanding Eden Projects around the world; China, Dubai, Columbia, Dundee Scotland, Australia, Foyle Northern Ireland, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Lake Chad and Portland USA. Not all are biomes, but interesting projects none the less.
@@Andrew-uq4zo Planning - which they have been doing for the last 5 years or so.... not much has been done on the ground yet... and still more places closing in the town centre - arndale is a shell of what it used to be a decade ago.
They put on some really good shows there at night in the summer too. I have been to a couple and all the domes have spectacular lighting for the concerts.
The white pit about which you enquired was a kaolin mine. Kaolin is a vital ingredient in producing porcelain and other good china. In the early 20th century, Cornwall produced half of the world's production of kaolin. It is also used in some cosmetics. Wedgewood, Minton and other fine china manufacturers used Cornish kaolin. The county once produced a million tonnes a year. By today, largly due to labour costs, most production has been moved to Brazil.
I visited the Eden project in 2004 when we were on our annual holiday in Cornwall, we used to stay only about 3 miles away from it. When driving in the area you would honestly never even know it was there without the signs to tell you where it is, because of it’s location in the bottom of the pit (a disused china clay mine…it did mention that at the start of the video). But it is an amazing place to visit, every bit as awe inspiring as it seems from the video. I’ve never been back but now I really want to!
It's appropriate you uploaded this today Steve. A famous tree in the UK known as the 'Sycamore Gap Tree' or 'Robin Hood Tree was chopped down by a vandal yesterday. It sat on Hadrian's Wall and was known as the most photographed tree in the UK and even featured in the film 'Robin Hood Prince of Thieves'. People are very upset.
Why, just why? That's what most of us who care about such things don't get. You will have read, Shoomer, that the felling was a precision operation, so not executed by a handful of perhaps drunken yobboes hell bent on destruction for destruction's sake. It has to be said though, that such incomprehensible attitudes tend to be manifested in all realms of life here, large or small. So very sad.
Should name and shame the little scrote that did this. And them put him in stocks in the nearest village. And plaster his name and face all over social media.
What a fantastic lady and video, we need more people who can get the message across and make it fun! Its a great place, went ages ago, they have more domes now
Have visited the Eden project a few times. The most incredible visit was whilst they were still constructing the geodesic domes and still clearing land. The first two geodesic domes were built and completely empty. Returning a year later to see it full of plants was incredible. Now, it is just crazyness of plants, structure and a must see
The clay pit in which the project is sited was in use for over 160 years. In 1981, the pit was used by the BBC as the planet surface of Magrathea in the TV series the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. By the mid-1990s the pit was all but exhausted.
I've travelled all over the world in the last 40 years but Eden is one of my favourite places to spend time. And it was right on my doorstep 😀 If you visit I recommend staying the weekend. You can rent pods (made from shipping containers) on the site just down the road from the biomes. When I went staying there meant you could wander around after the regular visitors had all gone home. I recommend having your evening meal "outdoors" in the biome if they still offer that as an option. fabulous place. For my money one of the best attractions the UK has to offer.
the mine was a china clay pit, the white clay is used in the paper industry to make the paper white and smooth. it also is used in paint and pottery industry, unfortunately most of the mines have shut down as production was moved to south America.
As you say, "Gotta love trees, man.". In the UK we're reeling from the news that one of the most famous and photographed trees in the country was felled last night by some a*hole kid with a chain-saw - a 200 year old sycamore, which "starred" in many movies.
I still remember when these were built as I lived in Cornwall at the time. The project was part funded by the EU and it brought a much needed boost to the local economy. It's highly worth a visit, any time of year. They also have a large outdoor area that they use as a venue. I saw Nine Inch Nails perform there shortly after lockdown which was alone was amazing, but all attendees also got access to all the biomes as well.
This was being built the same years that I was studying my HND Building Studies and my BSc on Property and Asset Management. We used this structure as part of our lessons, the plastic covering was nicknamed Transparent Aluminium (star trek joke). I took my kids there in its fifth year of opening, it was one of the best days out we have ever had. We walked the trail from floor to roof and then came down the stairs at the side of the waterfall that was from roof to floor. we have been back a couple of times to see it evolve. If you are in the area then you must look up the Lost Garden of Heligan, his first project mentioned in the film. both well worth the time.😄👍
Visited The Eden Project several times over the years,was there the day they started putting in the trees etc. concerts here have a very special atmosphere.
I used to work at the Eden Project and worked with Jo (the guide in the video) and Tim Smit (the co-founder). Jo is just like she is the video - funny and engaging. It was a thrill working at somewhere so iconic and beautiful - a fab place to take your lunch or have a lunchtime walk! My favourite part of Eden is the concerts they put on every June/July. Quite intimate with only 5000 in the audience and the biomes are used as part of the light show. The likes of Elton John, Kylie, Bryan Adams, Lionel Ritchie and Nile Rogers have played there. Such a buzz. Also very educational on the environment and climate change. Well worth a visit - especially if you like plants.
Superb place - such genius. Geodesic domes? The Lost Gardens of Heligan are quite moving because the garden “went to sleep” when the staff went to fight in the Great War. If you get the chance go to see both. Britain is full of fantastic houses and gardens you can visit.
Had a few days in Cornwall this week. Went here yesterday. It really is a wonderful place. So many plants and trees etc from all over the world. Well worth a visit.
I first went to the eden project when I was 4 yrs old! (A year before it was opened)...I last went a couple years back to watch a noel gallagher gig. I've been many times.. its great! 😊
I visited the Eden Project with my husband a few years ago, you are right wanting to visit it when you get the chance it is one of the most fantastic, impressive places we’ve ever been, definitely well worth a visit. 👍
I’m lucky to live only ten minute drive from here, so it’s a big part of my childhood, don’t know how many times I’ve been there! Had family and friends that worked there, even met the queen there in 2006. An awesome place overall! Would gladly give a free tour 😉 😁
My cousin was one of the Chef Mining Engineers at English China Clay. He worked the last shift in that particular pit and oversaw the shutdown and make safe. China Clay is a fine white soft Clay used for making fine China and Porcelain it is also used in paper, rubber, paint and some Pharmaceuticals. All around the pits were what was called the Cornish Alps. They were the waist heaps from the Mining mainly made of white/light grey Quartz sand, but a use was found for it and now they are mostly gone some of the smaller ones remaining have been planted to stabilize them. China Clay is still mined in the area around St Austell and The Eden Project. It is a wonderful place to visit as it Cornwall itself.
great video steve! really glad you got around to checking this out! as a lanscape gardener as well i have a keen interest in plants and architechture as well! certainly a must visit place! truly awe inspiring especially as its in the uk haha! you should also check out, KEW gardens as well as the tresco abbey gardens as well both are a must see with stunning tropical and old english garden styles!
I live in Cornwall. I have been to Eden Project when it first opened, I've been back since several times. You'll always find something new. It's best to go to Mediterranean biome first then the Rain Forest biome. They also have concerts there. There is a train there to get you back up to the top.
I’m an exiled Londoner living about 20miles from Eden and although it’s an amazing place,it’s not doing so great at the moment. Covid happened and the footfall disappeared,not to mention how expensive it is to go in there. I worked in the grounds for Hangloose (a zip wire that travels above the biomes among other thrill rides) and we often popped in to have a look around. It’s a constant 73degrees so gets quite humid. The gantry at the top of the main biome is a bit scary as it’s a grid platform meaning you can see through to the ground. Well worth a visit but be prepared for about $46 pp and take your own refreshments. The on-site cafe is hideously expensive.
Steve, the fact that you love tree's and gardens is reason enough to visit the UK. We have many historic buildings that have beautiful gardens attached to them. If you wander into an old churchyard over here, its likely that in front of the church will be an ancient yew tree.
I live five minutes away from Eden, its breathtaking, as is the rest of Cornwall with its stunning beaches and wild moorlands , I'm on the edge of Bodmin Moor which is beautiful yet can be very unforgiving , definitely visit Cornwall try a pasty and take in the Cornish beauty, oh and they have amazing concerts /live music at Eden ❤
Something you wouldn't have probably noticed from that is how many animals and insects are in the domes, all kinds of birds and insects, you can see literally thousands of butterflies at the right times of year, I've even seen squirrels. Properly magical place and im lucky to have been several times, the first some 20 years ago
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Tom Smit's first project is amazing and well worth a visit. We've been to Eden Project several times. The first time the biomes (domes) were still not complete and we stood on the viewing platform and could see the diggers which were quite small in comparison to the biomes. It is a very large site but is well organised and a wonderful experience
You will enjoy the domes! Its great there with lots of education areas too. I went there 2005 when it was still very new. They wanted help planting bulbs so i koined in & planted some
We visited The Eden project when we were living in Bristol. This place is huge, and it's such a fun place to visit. It was only a few years after completion when we visited and we'd love to go back again now that it's matured and our 3 kids are old enough to appreciate it (14, 13 and 11). Well worth a visit if you get a chance.
Steve it’s amazing! When you go there their cafe is supplied by veg they grow. The way you have clean mugs/ plates the whole thing is fantastic. It’s completely accessible too.
I love the Eden Project. We went there on holiday - the morning of our hols one of our dogs ran through glass chasing a cat, and she ended up in a soft leg cast (mainly to stop her from chewing at her leg.). She went all round TEP with us, in a pull along wagon! TEP was fascinating both for humans and naughty four-leggers!
@reactingtomyroots When I visited more than ten years ago, it reminded me of the 1972 Movie 'Silent Running', which was set on the USS Valley Forge... surprised you've never watched that one.
The structure creates the support. Geodesic domes are amazing and domes in general have their own properties that help create micro climates. The types of plants also help. Cornwall can actually be quite wild weather wise, it is known for the Atlantic storms that batter it’s coasts.
You definitely wouldn't be disappointed after a visit. I live in Devon and have visited a few times - we've also taken the children to one of the Halloween events. They were fascinated by everything and it really helped to start my grandson's interest in the environment. Cornwall is also such a beautiful county - with long sandy beaches and lovely countryside.
Hi Steve .. Happy you have learned about the Eden project. You are correct & i am happy you know about plants communicating via chemical signals. I think of Earth as being alive & all of Nature is linked. Great reaction 👍🇬🇧❤🇺🇸
Just a piece of trivia. The Eden Project was used to film the interior of Gustavia Graves' ice palace in the James Bond film Die Another Day. Halle Berry’s stunt double climbed down one of the biomes for the film. Obviously, there was a lot of CGI involved, but the effects were stunning.
I read about your other commentators advice on Kew Gardens. Yes I agree, and there they have a long tree top canopy walk to let you see what humans normally miss. In Cornwall, clay for making crockery has been an important industry. The Eden site is well sheltered from wind (as you mentioned) and is also a sun trap. In the tropics, it rains every day for an hour (as you know, I've lived there), and all different climatic effects have to be maintained at the Eden Project, 24 hours a day, from the highest of soaking humidity to the driest of deserts.
I have visited the Eden Project precisely once on December 26 some years ago. I can thoroughly recommend it as one of the best places to see on our islands. It was quite an experience walking into the tropical zone wearing winter clothes.
The British and Irish love gardens, and there are so many glorious gardens to visit in the UK and Ireland. One of the most prestigious societies in the UK is the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). There are many guides which will tell you the great gardens - such as Bodnant, Inverewe, Westonbirt Arboretum, Hidcote Bartrim - and there is even a scheme whereby private individuals can open their garden for a weekend. And - as another commenter has told you - Kew Gardens. This was anciently a Royal Palace, and is really big, beautiful, and peaceful, in west London. Not only is it a wonderful place to visit, but it's the world capital of botany. It has I believe the biggest herbarium in the world, but I think it acts as the central control on the naming of plant species.
Tresco Gardens on The Isles of Scilly are incredible too. They are located on the Scilly Isles, 28 miles off the tip of Cornwall. You can fly there by helicopter from Penzance, or take a trip on The Scillonian, a ship which sails from Penzance to the Scillies every morning I believe. While you are at the southern most tip of Cornwall, also worth seeing very much is Saint Michaels Mount. An ancient abbey and strong hold on a dramatic rocky island just off shore from Marazion village. Also the town of Saint Ives is wonderful. It’s a very special place that takes your breath it’s so beautiful.
I visited The Eden Project just after lockdown ended in 2021. (Interesting fact; your ticket lasts for 12 months for the price of 1 day's admission, you can go every day of the year at no extra cost, some do). It was our first hot period at the beginning of July. Because of Covid all of the interactive displays were shut, all of the free water points were shut, the cafe's and restaurants were using social distancing reg's. The cool room (an oasis of cool breeze) in the tropical zone was shut. I suffered, was dyeing of thirst and soaked with sweat after the 45 minute tropical trek but loved it. It's a bucket list thing that has to be done to be appreciated. The waterfall is now my phone's screensaver, the memory of being soooo hot but basking in the waterfall's cool mist while on that rope bridge will never leave me.
It's an amazing place. They have concerts there every year, so we had a day looking round the domes, and watched Muse in the evening. I'll remember it for the rest of my life as a magical experience.
There is a Youth Hostel on site using old shipping containers fitted out as superb all in rooms. I have stayed there many times and you just walk down to the domes. They are much larger than they look on video with birds flying around. The structure is geodesic and very strong. Yes it's VERY hot, incredibly humid and "rains" a lot! One of the greatest places to visit and base out of for the rest or Cornwall :)
The other garden mentioned is the lost gardens of Heligan well worth a visit,, when you do come over and go to the Eden project recommend getting there early. You will find that it is constantly evolving and could easily spend a day there it is very educational for children and adults alike.
If you like the Eden Project, Kew gardens in London is well worth looking into, it's 300 acres of gardens with several enormous conservatories / greenhouses and a tree top walkway. It's hundreds of years old with millions of specimens
Kew also has a sister garden, RHS Wisley, also well worth a visit.
It’s an amazing place to visit. I’ve visited once a a child .
It’s over 6 hours from London, so not a day trip unless you love driving , and about the same by train.
I also mentioned Kew Gardens. I think it is definitely worth a look at.
There is another reason for an American to visit Kew Gardens, it is where George III lived ( Mad King George, Farmer George ). The King who lost America. The botanical gardens holds that houses the "largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world".
ruclips.net/video/3DPJW5cH8xc/видео.htmlsi=PrSGi-Pn_OYsefWC
The Eden Project Isn’t just amazing but is essential to educate future generations. Don’t think it would uphold as well here in North Wales. Too many extreme wind force sea gales and hurricane winds sometimes. You said you love Oak trees. I have one growing in an old plant pot in the garden, from a stray seed. Going to replant it in the woods where it can thrive. So important to care for every tree.🏴❤️🌎🇺🇸
The start for this was when they discovered the Heligan Estate in Cornwall which was so overgrown no one knew what was there, most of the estates gardeners etc, had died in WW1. They renewed the garden to it's former state and can be visited today, it's now known as The Lost Gardens of Heligan. I found it magical and breathtaking.... which lead to the consept of The Eden Project. Steve, you would love both..... two of many beautiful subtropical gardens in Cornwall.
the lost gardens of Heligan are beautiful!
It is a beautiful place to visit, which is the Eden Project.
Heligan & The Eden Project are not far apart, about 20 minutes drive. Big warning, if you get over here & want to visit DO NOT GO AT THE WEEKEND or when the kids are off school. My sister-in-law went to Eden a while back and it was so busy the parking was so far away they were running a shuttle bus service. OK it may have improved I'm not sure, but midweek is better & both are definitely well worth a visit. From what I've heard you say about visiting places you need to be over here for about a month you want to see so much. That part of Cornwall was famous for china clay for making pottery, hence the enormous hole in the ground & the domes that now cover it are about 55m(180feet) high & cover 29 football fields, BIG. Love the vids😊
@@readingroomcafeprojectbut very, very expensive to enter.
Cornwall famous for tin mines and China clay pits, they literally scoured out the clay leaving huge white holes in the ground. This is an amazing project, started with a massive vision and passion, how they got it funded and built is beyond me. A true wonder, if you do go to the Eden project also look around the rest of the Cornish coast it is a wonderful part of England although they have their own distinct culture
as well as big holes in the ground they left big slag pyramids, especially around St Austell, some of which collapse in heavy rain
Lottery funded.
Some old Tin mines may be reopened as well as having Tin and Copper ore they also have Lithium, not known about in the 18th and 19th even the 20th centuries.
@@jasonbull6560 Original build pre-dates lottery
@@tonys1636South Crofty being one of those…
Being born and raised in Cornwall I've been to Eden Project countless times as a child. It's a fantastic place to visit just prepare yourself for the sweltering humidity in the rainforest biome!
I remember visiting a few years ago, and found Sir David Attenborough in the Tropical Dome talking to a camera about the leafcutter ants in front of him. What a treat!
That is so cool! I love leafcutter ants, they're one of my all-time favourite species cos they're one of the first (but probably not THE first) farmers the planet had. Humans think we invented farming but the ants beat us to it by a few million years lol :D
Amazing , as someone who has had anxiety and depression nature is a god send , I walk in my local woods everyday and it does me the world of good . So important we look after our green spaces . 😊 💚🌳🌲🌿
You should see it in the summer. The whole exterior portion is full of bright colours from all the different flowers. There are viewing platforms right at the top of the rainforest biome and theres also a zip line across the entire pit.
The live music concers there are excellent too.
I love the guide’s enthusiasm for her plants and her serious message to end on. The Eden Project is just 15 miles from my home and I’ve lost count of the number of visits I’ve made. I seem to remember English China clay was sold around the world until cheaper Chinese porcelain took over the market. We do get storms in from the Atlantic but the choice of location is perfect so even on a windy day you will feel a climate difference as you walk down from the car parks. The small train will take you back up if worn out at the end of a visit but the outside gardens are just as impressive to wander through. Definitely worth a visit Steve!
I live in Cornwall, this is a great feat in engineering and horticulture.
If you enjoy gardens and plants, Cornwall is excellent even by British standards. There's dozens of amazing gardens just a few miles apart. Eden project obviously, Lostwithiel, the Lost Gardens of Heligan (absolutely amazing), Trebah near Helston, Trengwainton near Penzance just a few of my favourites in Cornwall.
Cornwall has enough to keep even the most demanding visitor entertained for a fortnight in itself. Outdoor theatres built into the cliffs, amazing castles and seascapes, wildlife reserves, museums, and lots of gardens. Cornwall has a beauteous climate.
I well remember the tv series 'The Lost Gardens of Hligen' I suspect it's available on the tube here, I'll have to hae a looksee.
Outside theatre on the cliffs is called the Minack theatre.
Great watch Steve thanks
I visited the Eden Project in its first year and was inspired by it (and also the Lost Gardens of Heligan, another Tim Smit project nearby). Now I have my own bio farm producing herbs and edible plants (in Belgium) without fertiliser or pesticides.
You should definitely come back if you can. The place has grown and changed hugely since that opening year
I went there on holiday 12 years ago when I was 7, and to this day I still remember the incredible heat, humidity and 'greenhousey' smell of that place. 10/10 place btw
China clay is used to make fine porcelain, I used to work at Coalport and Wedgewood potteries where they used a lot of the stuff, I don't know anything about the science of it all though, I was just an artist, not a potter, but painting fired and glazed porcelain is an incredible thing, everything needs to be perfect, you can't make any mistakes, and every brush stroke has to be confident and fluid, if you hesitate it's ruined and you have to start again, it's the most difficult job I ever had as an artist in the ceramics industry.
It’s also used to create glossy pages in magazines and I think in the production of tablets (medication) amongst a multitude of other things. China clay is one of those things that finds its way onto many ingredient lists.
Must be the hardest artist job in the world as the colour one is painting on is a totally different one once fired.
Wedgwood don't come that cheap 🎉🎉
@@tonys1636 You have to be meticulous and very well organised to paint porcelain for sure!
If you like the oak tree, check out "major oak" it's a 1000 year old tree, in Sherwood forest, England.
I lived down the road from it when it was being built and went to it a few times it was quite an incredible thing, as you approach it you don’t really see it until you come out of the visitor centre. Also occasionally I saw a giant tree on the back of a truck drive past my house when it was being planted. I need to go back and see how much it has changed in the past 22 years
It was a mine for china clay (the stuff fine porcelain is made from). BTW, the tall plant in the background at 4:19 is a tree fern (the ponga or silver fern) which is the national plant of where I live, New Zealand. I have two of them in my back garden :) And those are basically two connected groups of geodesic domes with special "pillow" exteriors - the largest single dome is 180 feet high and 330 foot wide! The whole project covers nearly 200 acres. "Clingfilm with attitude" - I love it!
We do love our gardening , plants and accessories are a major industry and there are many magnificent examples both public and private up and down the Country , most of them are open to the public . The Eden project however is another dimension , the vision and determination to build something for the 21st century to educate and inspire the next generation.
I would argue Eden is one of the best music venues in the country, the biomes light up along with the shows and it has a limited number of guests, tickets are hard to come by but definitely worth every penny! The who this year were incredible to watch!
I watched Tim Minchin there in a storm. As he sang a particular lyric that was very funny and anti religion there was a flash of lightning and the back of the stage blew open. Everyone found it hilarious and he obviously made it into a 'bit'. Great memories
Oh ! The Eden project huh? I used to live fairly close by ( Liskeard ) and the then partner and I took the kids there. It's FANTASTIC! The kids were absolutely fascinated...by the 'hothouse' section...where they had carnivorous plants...'Venus Flytraps' and 'pitcher plants' ( that trap insects ) . Most certainly worth a visit !
I live 2 miles from Eden, it's beautiful and now they do awesome concerts there as well
One of the things she didn’t mention was the baobab tree, the fruit is harvested every year and you can try smoothies made from it, not like any fruit I’ve had before. They have tonnes of products to buy made from things they grow. Really cool place and the rainforest biome is seriously humid!
Being there is next level, the difference in humidity, temperatures and even scents just add to the experience. When you walk through the Mediterranean area and you take in the aroma, you really feel like you are in the Med. The view from the top is amazing too. One of my kids favourite day trips.
The Eden Project is a fab place to visit, I went in 2005 when I was in Cornwall for a week. The Lost Gardens of Heligan are nearby and equally beautiful, but completely different. I loved both places. As others have commented, Kew Gardens is an absolute must for anyone interested in plants. ❤❤❤
Two great calls. Agreed.
Cornwall is actually pretty windy, the UK as a whole is being an island where you can never be more than ~80 miles form the coast and Cornwall is on a peninsular and has strong historic and current connections to the sea
My husband worked for the Cornish company that did the initial ground work i.e putting the bars in the ground to strengthen it and securing the walls is the sides of the area to secure that while checking one of the drilled holes in the ground his mobile phone fell out of his top pocket straight down the hole it's still there I have a number of photo's he'd taken during his time there
The Eden Project is like no other. I am fortunate to live in Cornwall and have been several times. It never ceases to amaze. I recommend anyone living in or visiting the UK to put the Eden Project on their 'must do' list.
They are expanding Eden Projects around the world; China, Dubai, Columbia, Dundee Scotland, Australia, Foyle Northern Ireland, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Lake Chad and Portland USA. Not all are biomes, but interesting projects none the less.
Would be nice to get another one here before taking it all over the world
I live in Morecambe and planning on building an Eden v soon 👌
@@Andrew-uq4zo Planning - which they have been doing for the last 5 years or so.... not much has been done on the ground yet... and still more places closing in the town centre - arndale is a shell of what it used to be a decade ago.
They put on some really good shows there at night in the summer too. I have been to a couple and all the domes have spectacular lighting for the concerts.
The white pit about which you enquired was a kaolin mine. Kaolin is a vital ingredient in producing porcelain and other good china. In the early 20th century, Cornwall produced half of the world's production of kaolin. It is also used in some cosmetics. Wedgewood, Minton and other fine china manufacturers used Cornish kaolin. The county once produced a million tonnes a year. By today, largly due to labour costs, most production has been moved to Brazil.
I visited the Eden project in 2004 when we were on our annual holiday in Cornwall, we used to stay only about 3 miles away from it. When driving in the area you would honestly never even know it was there without the signs to tell you where it is, because of it’s location in the bottom of the pit (a disused china clay mine…it did mention that at the start of the video). But it is an amazing place to visit, every bit as awe inspiring as it seems from the video. I’ve never been back but now I really want to!
It's appropriate you uploaded this today Steve. A famous tree in the UK known as the 'Sycamore Gap Tree' or 'Robin Hood Tree was chopped down by a vandal yesterday. It sat on Hadrian's Wall and was known as the most photographed tree in the UK and even featured in the film 'Robin Hood Prince of Thieves'. People are very upset.
Why, just why? That's what most of us who care about such things don't get. You will have read, Shoomer, that the felling was a precision operation, so not executed by a handful of perhaps drunken yobboes hell bent on destruction for destruction's sake. It has to be said though, that such incomprehensible attitudes tend to be manifested in all realms of life here, large or small. So very sad.
over 250 yrs old too
Should name and shame the little scrote that did this. And them put him in stocks in the nearest village. And plaster his name and face all over social media.
Yes, I heard about that! Pretty sad that someone would be so thoughtless and do that.
@@reactingtomyroots A 16 yr old was arrested yesterday and now a 60 yr old was arrested today, in relation to the felling.
Visited the Eden Project a couple of years ago and was blown away by it. It really is a must see if you go to Cornwall.
What a fantastic lady and video, we need more people who can get the message across and make it fun!
Its a great place, went ages ago, they have more domes now
Have visited the Eden project a few times. The most incredible visit was whilst they were still constructing the geodesic domes and still clearing land. The first two geodesic domes were built and completely empty. Returning a year later to see it full of plants was incredible. Now, it is just crazyness of plants, structure and a must see
Just imagine each BioDome is the same size of one of your American Football Stadiums and you would not be far from wrong.
The clay pit in which the project is sited was in use for over 160 years. In 1981, the pit was used by the BBC as the planet surface of Magrathea in the TV series the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. By the mid-1990s the pit was all but exhausted.
It's lovely in there, always nice & warm.
I've travelled all over the world in the last 40 years but Eden is one of my favourite places to spend time. And it was right on my doorstep 😀 If you visit I recommend staying the weekend. You can rent pods (made from shipping containers) on the site just down the road from the biomes. When I went staying there meant you could wander around after the regular visitors had all gone home. I recommend having your evening meal "outdoors" in the biome if they still offer that as an option. fabulous place. For my money one of the best attractions the UK has to offer.
the mine was a china clay pit, the white clay is used in the paper industry to make the paper white and smooth. it also is used in paint and pottery industry, unfortunately most of the mines have shut down as production was moved to south America.
As you say, "Gotta love trees, man.". In the UK we're reeling from the news that one of the most famous and photographed trees in the country was felled last night by some a*hole kid with a chain-saw - a 200 year old sycamore, which "starred" in many movies.
I still remember when these were built as I lived in Cornwall at the time. The project was part funded by the EU and it brought a much needed boost to the local economy. It's highly worth a visit, any time of year. They also have a large outdoor area that they use as a venue. I saw Nine Inch Nails perform there shortly after lockdown which was alone was amazing, but all attendees also got access to all the biomes as well.
What did the EU ever do for us? Oh yeah..this. Amongst many other things.
Agreed is a great concert venue.
wow, got goosebumps... "I wish I had or I'm glad I did". Life lesson there kids. :)
This was being built the same years that I was studying my HND Building Studies and my BSc on Property and Asset Management. We used this structure as part of our lessons, the plastic covering was nicknamed Transparent Aluminium (star trek joke). I took my kids there in its fifth year of opening, it was one of the best days out we have ever had. We walked the trail from floor to roof and then came down the stairs at the side of the waterfall that was from roof to floor. we have been back a couple of times to see it evolve. If you are in the area then you must look up the Lost Garden of Heligan, his first project mentioned in the film. both well worth the time.😄👍
Visited the Eden Project twice, well worth a visit and so much to see. Amazing place.
Visited The Eden Project several times over the years,was there the day they started putting in the trees etc. concerts here have a very special atmosphere.
I used to work at the Eden Project and worked with Jo (the guide in the video) and Tim Smit (the co-founder). Jo is just like she is the video - funny and engaging. It was a thrill working at somewhere so iconic and beautiful - a fab place to take your lunch or have a lunchtime walk! My favourite part of Eden is the concerts they put on every June/July. Quite intimate with only 5000 in the audience and the biomes are used as part of the light show. The likes of Elton John, Kylie, Bryan Adams, Lionel Ritchie and Nile Rogers have played there. Such a buzz. Also very educational on the environment and climate change. Well worth a visit - especially if you like plants.
Superb place - such genius. Geodesic domes? The Lost Gardens of Heligan are quite moving because the garden “went to sleep” when the staff went to fight in the Great War. If you get the chance go to see both. Britain is full of fantastic houses and gardens you can visit.
Had a few days in Cornwall this week. Went here yesterday. It really is a wonderful place. So many plants and trees etc from all over the world. Well worth a visit.
Eden Sessions, where great band/groups/singers from all over the world play live, is one of the most amazing live show arenas, it’s amazing.
Been here many times and I never get tired of it, it’s constantly changing
I live down the road from Eden. We always get the year passes. They have ice skating there at Christmas and regular bands playing. Place is awesome.
You need to look up The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Beautiful.
That ladies passion for this is amazing. I may need to visit this place.
I first went to the eden project when I was 4 yrs old! (A year before it was opened)...I last went a couple years back to watch a noel gallagher gig. I've been many times.. its great! 😊
I visited the Eden Project with my husband a few years ago, you are right wanting to visit it when you get the chance it is one of the most fantastic, impressive places we’ve ever been, definitely well worth a visit. 👍
We go to Cornwall regularly and this is one of our frequent destinations. Spectacular and amazing.
I could listen to her talking about that for a couple of hours, it's always great when people speak about something they're passionate about.
I’m lucky to live only ten minute drive from here, so it’s a big part of my childhood, don’t know how many times I’ve been there! Had family and friends that worked there, even met the queen there in 2006. An awesome place overall! Would gladly give a free tour 😉 😁
That's awesome! Sounds like you're pretty lucky. :)
My cousin was one of the Chef Mining Engineers at English China Clay. He worked the last shift in that particular pit and oversaw the shutdown and make safe.
China Clay is a fine white soft Clay used for making fine China and Porcelain it is also used in paper, rubber, paint and some Pharmaceuticals.
All around the pits were what was called the Cornish Alps. They were the waist heaps from the Mining mainly made of white/light grey Quartz sand, but a use was found for it and now they are mostly gone some of the smaller ones remaining have been planted to stabilize them.
China Clay is still mined in the area around St Austell and The Eden Project.
It is a wonderful place to visit as it Cornwall itself.
great video steve! really glad you got around to checking this out! as a lanscape gardener as well i have a keen interest in plants and architechture as well! certainly a must visit place! truly awe inspiring especially as its in the uk haha! you should also check out, KEW gardens as well as the tresco abbey gardens as well both are a must see with stunning tropical and old english garden styles!
This is a place that the 'green critics' of England should go to. We should all be proud of it.
It would have been more green to have left it as a gravel pit.
@@mikesaunders4775 It was a dis-used china clay pit, not gravel. That comes from dredging our shores.
@@mikesaunders4775 Tosser. It was a white Clay pit for making lovely 'China' pottery like English Tea pots and Cups.
I agree it looks amazing
I live in Cornwall. I have been to Eden Project when it first opened, I've been back since several times. You'll always find something new. It's best to go to Mediterranean biome first then the Rain Forest biome.
They also have concerts there.
There is a train there to get you back up to the top.
I’m an exiled Londoner living about 20miles from Eden and although it’s an amazing place,it’s not doing so great at the moment.
Covid happened and the footfall disappeared,not to mention how expensive it is to go in there.
I worked in the grounds for Hangloose (a zip wire that travels above the biomes among other thrill rides) and we often popped in to have a look around.
It’s a constant 73degrees so gets quite humid.
The gantry at the top of the main biome is a bit scary as it’s a grid platform meaning you can see through to the ground.
Well worth a visit but be prepared for about $46 pp and take your own refreshments.
The on-site cafe is hideously expensive.
Steve, the fact that you love tree's and gardens is reason enough to visit the UK.
We have many historic buildings that have beautiful gardens attached to them.
If you wander into an old churchyard over here, its likely that in front of the church will be an ancient yew tree.
I've visited this placec4 times and would happily go again, it's a must if you like plants.
I live five minutes away from Eden, its breathtaking, as is the rest of Cornwall with its stunning beaches and wild moorlands , I'm on the edge of Bodmin Moor which is beautiful yet can be very unforgiving , definitely visit Cornwall try a pasty and take in the Cornish beauty, oh and they have amazing concerts /live music at Eden ❤
Something you wouldn't have probably noticed from that is how many animals and insects are in the domes, all kinds of birds and insects, you can see literally thousands of butterflies at the right times of year, I've even seen squirrels. Properly magical place and im lucky to have been several times, the first some 20 years ago
I live just around the corner from Eden Project and luckily get to visit most Saturday's when they have the 5km parkrun .
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Tom Smit's first project is amazing and well worth a visit. We've been to Eden Project several times. The first time the biomes (domes) were still not complete and we stood on the viewing platform and could see the diggers which were quite small in comparison to the biomes. It is a very large site but is well organised and a wonderful experience
You will enjoy the domes! Its great there with lots of education areas too. I went there 2005 when it was still very new. They wanted help planting bulbs so i koined in & planted some
We visited The Eden project when we were living in Bristol. This place is huge, and it's such a fun place to visit. It was only a few years after completion when we visited and we'd love to go back again now that it's matured and our 3 kids are old enough to appreciate it (14, 13 and 11). Well worth a visit if you get a chance.
Steve it’s amazing! When you go there their cafe is supplied by veg they grow. The way you have clean mugs/ plates the whole thing is fantastic. It’s completely accessible too.
I love the Eden Project. We went there on holiday - the morning of our hols one of our dogs ran through glass chasing a cat, and she ended up in a soft leg cast (mainly to stop her from chewing at her leg.). She went all round TEP with us, in a pull along wagon! TEP was fascinating both for humans and naughty four-leggers!
@reactingtomyroots When I visited more than ten years ago, it reminded me of the 1972 Movie 'Silent Running', which was set on the USS Valley Forge... surprised you've never watched that one.
it's good to have a reminder of loveliness we have here after the Sycamore Gap sycamore tree was felled yesterday.
I live 30 minutes away from eden project its amazing my kids love it
The structure creates the support. Geodesic domes are amazing and domes in general have their own properties that help create micro climates. The types of plants also help. Cornwall can actually be quite wild weather wise, it is known for the Atlantic storms that batter it’s coasts.
You definitely wouldn't be disappointed after a visit. I live in Devon and have visited a few times - we've also taken the children to one of the Halloween events. They were fascinated by everything and it really helped to start my grandson's interest in the environment. Cornwall is also such a beautiful county - with long sandy beaches and lovely countryside.
So he's another annoying climate activist learning about lies from the elite then maybe.
It's an amazing place - and Cornwall is a beautiful part of England
Beautiful Cornwall, my homeland now I miss you
Hi Steve .. Happy you have learned about the Eden project. You are correct & i am happy you know about plants communicating via chemical signals. I think of Earth as being alive & all of Nature is linked. Great reaction 👍🇬🇧❤🇺🇸
Steve I just love your enthusiasm I’ve been watching you for a long time and you never fail to entertain me.
I love your enthusiasm and generosity. Keep that about you.
Just a piece of trivia. The Eden Project was used to film the interior of Gustavia Graves' ice palace in the James Bond film Die Another Day. Halle Berry’s stunt double climbed down one of the biomes for the film. Obviously, there was a lot of CGI involved, but the effects were stunning.
My sister and I went there twice when we were in Cornwall. Every bit as good as it looks.
I read about your other commentators advice on Kew Gardens.
Yes I agree, and there they have a long tree top canopy walk to let you see what humans normally miss.
In Cornwall, clay for making crockery has been an important industry.
The Eden site is well sheltered from wind (as you mentioned) and is also a sun trap.
In the tropics, it rains every day for an hour (as you know, I've lived there), and all different climatic effects have to be maintained at the Eden Project, 24 hours a day, from the highest of soaking humidity to the driest of deserts.
I have visited the Eden Project precisely once on December 26 some years ago. I can thoroughly recommend it as one of the best places to see on our islands. It was quite an experience walking into the tropical zone wearing winter clothes.
The British and Irish love gardens, and there are so many glorious gardens to visit in the UK and Ireland. One of the most prestigious societies in the UK is the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). There are many guides which will tell you the great gardens - such as Bodnant, Inverewe, Westonbirt Arboretum, Hidcote Bartrim - and there is even a scheme whereby private individuals can open their garden for a weekend.
And - as another commenter has told you - Kew Gardens. This was anciently a Royal Palace, and is really big, beautiful, and peaceful, in west London. Not only is it a wonderful place to visit, but it's the world capital of botany. It has I believe the biggest herbarium in the world, but I think it acts as the central control on the naming of plant species.
I live, literally, around the corner from here. You have also done a reaction to St Ives and yes, they really are palm trees. We have lots here.
Tresco Gardens on The Isles of Scilly are incredible too.
They are located on the Scilly Isles, 28 miles off the tip of Cornwall. You can fly there by helicopter from Penzance, or take a trip on The Scillonian, a ship which sails from Penzance to the Scillies every morning I believe.
While you are at the southern most tip of Cornwall, also worth seeing very much is Saint Michaels Mount. An ancient abbey and strong hold on a dramatic rocky island just off shore from Marazion village.
Also the town of Saint Ives is wonderful. It’s a very special place that takes your breath it’s so beautiful.
I visited The Eden Project just after lockdown ended in 2021. (Interesting fact; your ticket lasts for 12 months for the price of 1 day's admission, you can go every day of the year at no extra cost, some do). It was our first hot period at the beginning of July. Because of Covid all of the interactive displays were shut, all of the free water points were shut, the cafe's and restaurants were using social distancing reg's. The cool room (an oasis of cool breeze) in the tropical zone was shut.
I suffered, was dyeing of thirst and soaked with sweat after the 45 minute tropical trek but loved it. It's a bucket list thing that has to be done to be appreciated. The waterfall is now my phone's screensaver, the memory of being soooo hot but basking in the waterfall's cool mist while on that rope bridge will never leave me.
It’s been used for quite a lot of TV, including scenes from, Die another Day, the Bond film.
It's an amazing place. They have concerts there every year, so we had a day looking round the domes, and watched Muse in the evening. I'll remember it for the rest of my life as a magical experience.
Wow! that would be an incredibly memorable concert experience, for sure.
@reactingtomyroots the audience was only 3500 so we got right to the front. Totally deaf for 2 days after, and totally worth it.
wow the lady in this vid knows it all!!! great video and v informative!
There is a Youth Hostel on site using old shipping containers fitted out as superb all in rooms. I have stayed there many times and you just walk down to the domes. They are much larger than they look on video with birds flying around. The structure is geodesic and very strong. Yes it's VERY hot, incredibly humid and "rains" a lot!
One of the greatest places to visit and base out of for the rest or Cornwall :)
i saw this not long after it was built and planted I would love to go back and see it almost 25 years on
The other garden mentioned is the lost gardens of Heligan well worth a visit,, when you do come over and go to the Eden project recommend getting there early.
You will find that it is constantly evolving and could easily spend a day there it is very educational for children and adults alike.
If you ever go, go at night, it;s all lit up and looks so good!
Went to the Eden Project on my honeymoon! A wonderful experience.