The Carbis Bay Hotel. Luxury hotel near St.Ives, Cornwall

Cornwall Gardens Holiday

Enjoy a relaxing luxury holiday at the award winning Carbis Bay Hotel, while visiting some of Cornwall's most enchanting gardens with experienced Garden's host Martin G Catford, M.I.Hart.,F.I.L.A.M.,D.H.W.(Hons).

Eden's Mission: Is to "Promote the understanding and responsible management of the vital relationship between plants, people and resources, leading towards a sustainable future for all." The aim is to create greater understanding of plants and their relationships with people.

The Eden Project: The site opened fully to the public at Easter 2001, and attracted nearly 2,000,000 visitors in the first year. During construction it employed around 100 full time personnel - all local -75% of whom were unemployed, and 40% were over 50 years of age. These figures do not include the construction workers themselves employed by McAlpine JV, of which there are a further 200, 85% of whom were also local.

The geodesic biomes (plastic houses) are made up of hexagons each approximately 9m ()29 1/2 ft across, and individually cut by computer, set into frames of galvanised tubular steel etc. with a triple layer of glazing of ETFE (Ethylene Tetra Flouro Ethylene Co-Polymer) transparent foil. This is very strong and able to admit UV light, so it is possible to receive sunburn inside the biomes! It is not degraded by sunlight, and anticipated to last 30 years. The sheeting is 1/100th the weight of ordinary glass, yet admits more wavelength than glass, the 'windows' are the same shape as a fly's eye.

Three layers of ETFE plastic foil within the hexagons are blown apart constantly by dry air forming an insulating pillow, thereby conserving heat and energy. The biomes are rather like lean-to conservatories - day time heat being absorbed by the china clay pit's rear wall, and re-released for night time heat gain. The climate is governed by the plants themselves - the more there are the cooler the biome becomes, as each gives off more water to cool the atmosphere.

The Humid Tropics Biome: Covers 6540m2 (167814ft2 or 18647yds2). It is 55m (180ft 5ins) high, 100m (328ft) wide and 200m (656ft) long. The pioneering tropical vegetation will reach its ultimate size in approximately 15 years under automatic artificial rainfall, before it is steadily replaced by climax vegetation. Some forms of tropical Bamboos (Bambusa gigantic) can grow up to 45cm (18ins) per day! Trees will be introduced at planting time at a height of approximately 6 metres (19 1/2ft).

The Warm Temprature Biome: Covers 6540m2, (70398ft2 or 7822yds2). It is 35 (114ft 10ins) high, 65m (213ft) wide and 135m (433ft) long - big enough to fit the Tower of London! Water is collected from the roof run-off and used for overhead rainstorm irrigation and waterfall. The lake on site has an approximate surface area of 1231m2 (1472yds2 = 1/3 acre).

Inside the biomes there are birds, insects and geckos to control teh pests. There is also a programme to breed endangered species of plants, e.g. Fitzroyia (from the Andean Mountains of Chile), in conjunction with the Royal Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh and Kew.

The Eden Project includes work of many artists and sculptors - an interesting sculpture at the approach to the visitor centre, called 'Flexiplants' and was created by David Kemp from materials used in the side drainage and building process at Eden. 'Adam' sculpture made from wood, waste clay soil and turf in apple orchard - Feb 2001. The Eden project appeared on two Carlton TV documentaries in early June 2000.