The deep southern territories of Britannia contain many a fascinating terrain. There are bewitching landscapes full of ancient monuments and historical curiosities. Areas bursting with legends, from ancient Kings to ferocious Giants and terrifying monsters. This south western corner of the island attracts a certain unique sense of mystery. Today we were interested in the natural wonders of this leg of the island. We would explore rainforests and grasslands, Mediterranean gardens and tropical climates.
Whilst our dearest Emily was busy uncovering prehistoric settlements in the remote hillsides, Audrey and I were joined in action by ArchaeoGranny and ArchaeoGrandad, who had been on their own adventures of the area. We joined forces to trek through some of the most fascinating wilderness imaginable. The wonders of the natural world, all contained within a delightful little bubble. Eden is a paradise, a spectacular feat of human ingenuity enhancing the natural environment. It is nature, created by man, emulating nature. The incredible biodomes cover vast collections of fauna from every corner of the globe. Designed to resemble giant bubbles (a design chosen because bubbles can land on any uneven surface and retain their structure) the huge domes appear like a space age delight in the lush green valley.
We made our way into the valley. In every corner and in every inch of space, was some exotic growth. With a scene reminiscent of the Jurassic Park arrival sequence, we wandered through mouths agape. Audrey delighted in the vast colourful show, floral artistry interwoven with epic living statues. Various creatures danced in and out of the unusual habitats, and placed perfectly amongst it all were hand crafted sculptures, created to replicate and enhance the vivacious views. Originally the area had been a vast China Clay pit, in use for over 160 years. In its old appearance, it had even claimed a starring role in the BBC’s 1981 TV series, the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. In 2001, after two and a half years construction, the full Eden Project opened its doors to the public, its two enormous Biomes and planted landscapes dominating the valley. The Project found further cinematic stardom when it featured in the James Bond movie, Die another Day, and has been the focus of several vibrant concerts including being a part of the Live 8 series in 2005.
We made our way into the domes. Audrey’s eyes were as wide as the windows as giant tropical rainforest fauna towered above us. The heat and humidity was stifling, a requirement for the survival of such exotic species, and a situation which added to the experience, tackling these alien landscapes. Following in the footsteps of explorers of old, we journeyed through the challenging climate and dense jungle, seeking enlightened understanding and perhaps, the origins of some ancient jungle mythology. Climbing gradually higher, the dome offered platforms for striking areal views. Thick fogs and steaming rains followed, cascading waterfalls and creatures of singular beauty and intrigue zipped this way and that. Our party were acclimatising well and Audrey and I took notes of the specimens for later study. Banana plants, coffee, rubber and giant bamboo were just some of the delights we experienced.
Finally we decided it was time to move the expedition to more familiar ground, and so we headed for the Mediterranean. Here the warm temperate climate reminded me of quaint holidays as a young boy, in little Spanish or Italian villages by the ocean. White wash walls, classical sculptures, olives, vineyards and calming folk music made us feel welcome and relaxed as we casually strolled through the winding paths and enjoyed the array of abundant wildlife. It was a perfect wind-down from the jungle exertions!
Within the Core, Eden’s educational centre, an intriguing artwork caught our attention. What appeared to our darling Audrey as a giant egg, was a piece named simply, Seed. Peter Randall-Page had designed and built the 70 tonne stone installation as an eye catching representation of the marvels of life. It stood four meters tall, and contained a unique patterning, apparently based upon the Geometric and Mathematical principles that underlie plant growth. We gazed upon it in awe… before getting hungry and making the joint decision to retire to the canteen for well-deserved refreshments. Finally, exhausted and having achieved our goals, we made for the transports and thought about getting back to camp.
With a final flourish of bravery, ArchaeoGrandad and I were drawn to the possibility of a terrifying flight of fancy, a zip wire catapulting the passenger over the entirety of this space age settlement, offering unrivalled views of the spectacular scenery and magical kingdom. Alas, as we approached the boarding bay for this mission, we were swiftly dissuaded by the volume of passengers ahead of us, and the astonishing additional costs of the experience. Having weighed up the options, we wisely decided a nice beer in a warm pub would offer far greater comfort after such a long and educational day… and so that is precisely what we did!
