The Eden Project with Helen Dolphin

On arrival, I was pleased to see a sign for accessible parking in a car park called Apple 1, which I duly followed. I was visiting on a weekday, in term time but even by 10.00am the car park was filling up quickly. However, there’s a drop off point close to the entrance so if you can’t park close enough you could get dropped off.  I took my own wheelchair but if you need to borrow one there are about 40 manual chairs available free of charge on a first come first served basis. These are stored at the bottom of Apple 1. There are also six powered chairs which are available to book in advance. Call the box office team on 01726 811911.

If you need a changing places toilet do be aware there is only one available in the visitors centre which is some distance from the biomes, so I’d advise making use of it before you make your way down. Otherwise there are plenty of accessible toilets dotted all over the site.

Giant Plants

As you come out of the visitors centre you have a choice of which route to use to take you to the biomes. The choice is minimum gradient, gentle gradient, or land train. We decided that we’d go for minimum gradient which involved a short walk over a bridge and then down a lift. This way provided a great view out over the Eden Project. Most people opted for the gentle gradient route which is a zig-zag path with a continuous 1:18 gradient.  Had it not been pouring with rain I may have decided to use this route instead as it takes you through some gardens but I wanted to get inside as quick as possible.

We decided to look round the smaller Mediterranean Biome first which contains landscapes of the Mediterranean, South Africa, California and Western Australia. As you enter this biome there is a beautiful display of bright red geraniums which grow fantastically well in this particular climate. If you’re a gardener you may find yourself wondering why your own plants are about half the size of the ones growing here. I know I did.

The Mediterranean biome was a good temperature for walking about when I visited, probably because it was raining outside, but if you visit when it’s sunny this biome can be as hot as 25°C. Sun cream is recommended at the Eden Project because even though the biomes feel like you’re indoors they offer little protection from the sun.

Rain Forest

After looking round the Mediterranean Biome we walked over to the Rainforest Biome which contains rainforest environments from the Tropical Islands, Southeast Asia, West Africa and Tropical South America. This biome is 50 metres tall and houses the world’s largest indoor rainforest. The main attraction in this biome is the treetop walkway which is accessible except for the Canopy Rope Bridge. Although the gradients are quite gentle it is quite a push for someone pushing themselves.  If you think it might be a bit of a struggle the Eden project does offer a scheme where they will provide you with a volunteer to assist.

One of the biggest attractions in the Rainforest Biome is the titan arum (corpse flower). This is the biggest flower in the world and can take years to reach full size. At the time I visited it had just died off which was probably a good thing as its smell is supposed to be terrible! Other attractions here include exhibits on rubber production, global warming and chocolate making.

Where to Eat

After spending a few hours looking round the biomes I decided it was time for a coffee.

There are so many different food places to choose from you really are spoilt for choice. I decided to go to the Eden kitchen which is situated between the Rainforest and Mediterranean Biomes. There are big wooden benches to sit at but I could fit at the end of the table quite comfortably in my wheelchair.

As well as the biomes, the Eden Project has over 20 acres of garden to explore. One of my favourite outdoor gardens was the Spiral Garden which is situated behind the core building. This is a sensory garden and here there are some plants with amazing smells. On a beautiful day I’m sure its lovely strolling around the gardens looking at the plants and sculptures but for me it was more a case of put my hood up and brave the weather!

Accessible

When it was time to leave I decided to take the Land train back up to the visitor centre. You can pick the train up by the stage area which is used for live concerts during the summer and in winter hosts a full size ice rink which you can go on in a manual chair. The last carriage on the train has been adapted to accommodate up to three wheelchairs. This journey takes you through more gardens on your way back and delivers you right outside the visitor centre.

Although the Eden Project is a large complex I felt a lot of thought and effort had been put in to making it accessible for everyone. There are a lot of activities and areas for children so it’s a great place for young and old.  I really enjoyed my visit and it has given me some inspiration for my garden at home. I’d love to return but hopefully next time the sun will be shining so I have more time to explore the beautiful gardens.

For more information visit www.edenproject.com or to pre-book assistance call 01726 818558