Cornwall's climate is benign compared to the rest of Britain. The sheltering walls of a former quarry pit make the Eden Project's site even more plant-friendly. The grounds showcase Cornish habitats as well as containing a lovely display of British flowers and vegetables intermixed with some foreign species coping just fine in the warmer temperatures. Inside the domes though is where things get really interesting.
It may look like temptingly poppable bubble wrap from a distance, but the special covering retains heat and moisture while letting UV light through, meaning that Mediterranean-type and rainforest habitats can be recreated in south west England. It's quite an experience to wander from Cornwall to Greece and on to Malaysia all in the course of one afternoon.
I loved seeing all the fruit and veg, from papaya and pineapples to nectarines and strawberries, and couldn't resist walking past beds filled with colourful salad ingredients into the cafe. It would have been rude not to indulge in the Cornish cream tea after all. I needed the energy to get me to another of Cornwall's special environments and an evening stroll along miles of golden sands.
