Natural Beauty

We walked to the Eden Project. I visited about 5 years ago, and wanted to revisit. The project is run as a charity, and the overall effect of seeing the plants together in one place (particularly in the Tropical Biome) is very effective. I felt however that there is a lack of focus on the achievements of the project, or indeed, any explanation of its objectives...

...instead it really comes across as being a giant garden centre, with art exhibitions where there should be clear education. The plants grew since I visited last, but very little else had changed for the better. We found the staff unhelpful, the displays rather disingenuous and confusing, and much of the project false and themed. If the project are doing good work, they don't tell you enough about it.

On the way home to the campsite, we walked back down a footpath, by a river, and met the most agile older person I've ever met - he jumped the stream and told us we should do the same; to admire the bluebells in the woods on the far side.

He told us wonderful stories of catching and selling rabbits in the war, of his dog Casper, and of the history of the footpath and the adjoining gardens, as we walked up to St Blazey Gate with him. Meeting him and seeing the bluebells really made our day...furthermore, we visited Fowey on our last day in Cornwall on his say so, and I'm very glad we did.