Highlights of Cornwall with Kids: Part 1 - The Eden Project

Rob and I both love meeting people and really enjoy the conversations we have with them. People seem amazed that we could leave home for twelve months and visit places where we know very few people. Well, our approach has always been that there are millions of friends out there we have yet to meet, so we better get on with it. 

Eden Project

During our travels in Cornwall the people we met were more than happy to talk with us. We learnt a lot from them and maybe they even learnt a little about life in Australia. Our conversations, once in Devon and Cornwall, always included us asking what people believe should not be missed and the answer was unanimously “the Eden Project”. This ended up something of a standing joke as we visited the day after we arrived so as to miss the Half Term holiday crowd, so often it was "been there done that". Luckily there were many other places on peoples favourites list but Eden Project would have to be the number one "must see" in Cornwall.

The Eden Project started out as a clay pit and this big useless hole in the ground has been turned into a botanical paradise, a perfect full day out for adults or children. There are two enormous biomes simulating a Mediterranean climate and a rainforest, allowing plants from around the world to thrive.

Outside the native plants of Cornwall are shown side by side with terrific sculptures, such as huge bees and Weee Man, created from all the electrical items a person would dispose of during their lifetime. There was lots of displays to get actively involved in, such a labyrinth to wend your way through and tunnels to crawl in.

 Inside the biomes there was much to entertain the kids, from a 50 metre high platform to climb to look out over the rainforest, story telling for children in the Mediterranean biome and examples of the various styles of housing peoples of the world have created using the things available in their local environment. It was terrific for gathering materials for home schooling later in the year.

We had believed the hot air balloon we had seen was for show until we were told that this is how the team at Eden Project trim back the plants when they grow too tall and threaten to pop through the roof. Needless to say the kids were very keen to have a ride but luckily it's only for the gardeners use.

An added bonus for the kids was getting the chance to ice skate at last. We had decided to let Emma’s broken arm have long enough to mend after she broke it last November, so we didn’t skate at the various Christmas markets we had visited.

But today we decided was the day and the kids were very keen and so was Rob to try skating for the first time, while I sat out and watched the fun. Emma had an advantage over the boys having skated at her cousin Emily’s birthday last year.

 She confidently sailed around the rink, while the boys wobbled around the edge, with Rob encouraging Julian to let go and hang onto him. All in all they did very well, Rob and Emma managed to keep on their feet while Julian had only a couple of tumbles and they all had a terrific time.

In hindsight if we were asked now for our favourite place to visit in Cornwall it would be hard to choose a favourite. However Eden Project is undeniably a place that you must visit if you are ever in this wonderful part of the world.

I will be back soon to tell you all about our visit to the magnificent Lanhydrock estate.  If you have any questions or comments I'd love to hear them.