Western Morning News (Saturday)
Eden says thanks as it welcomes back visitors
AGIANT rooftop message has been installed at the Eden Project paying thanks to everyone who has helped others through the coronavirus pandemic, as the attraction welcomes back visitors to its biomes today.
The sign, in four-metre high white letters alongside a blue heart, has been created by the Eden team to express gratitude at a challenging time and comes ahead of the 72nd anniversary of the creation of the National Health Service this Sunday.
A national focal point tomorrow will be a nationwide clap for the NHS at 5pm, and as well as the ‘Thank you’ sign, the Eden Project will light up the Biomes blue this weekend.
Peter Stewart, the Eden Project’s campaigns and communications director, said: “We are joining in the spirit of the national moment and showing our appreciation to all the unsung heroes of the age with a bold and simple statement of thanks.
“We thank the selfless people who are helping the country through the crisis, all those in our wonderful NHS, the care workers, the key workers, the volunteers, the neighbours, the family members and friends.”
Staff at the Eden Project, who have had the biomes all to themselves during lockdown, say the displays are looking as good as ever.
While the outdoor gardens opened early last month, the famous Rainforest and Mediterranean biomes will open to the public today, following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.
During lockdown a small team of horticulturists worked to ensure that the living collections were tended and they say flowers in the biomes are blooming in time for the return of visitors. Horticulturist Rob Elley has been looking after the Mediterranean Biome, which features more than 1,000 varieties of plants, and has been kept busy looking after the collection.
“While many people remained largely isolated in their own homes, I have been lucky enough to work alone in the warmth of the Mediterranean Biome,” he said. “My task has been daunting – to keep the plant collection watered and alive for everyone to enjoy once we reopen. As I’ve worked as hard as I can I’ve seen the wild areas of the Med basin, California, South Africa and Western Australia get denser and wilder, while flowering their hearts out without any help from me.”
Leo Hood, who leads the team looking after the Rainforest Biome, said: “We’ve had continuous stunning floral displays from the likes of the jade vine, sausage tree, Madagascan rubber vine and passion flowers.” A “lockdown highlight” had been planting out from the nursery “future stunners” such as a type of mangrove frangipani and wild tobacco. “We’ve also planted a coconut after many years of absence,” he added.
Julie Kendall, who leads the team looking after Eden’s 30-acre outdoor garden – a task she undertook alone while Eden was closed to visitors – said: “Since June 6 when we reopened the outdoor garden it has been wonderful to have visitors back and lovely to be able to chat to people while out tending our fabulous array of plants.”
For booking details visit:www.edenproject.com