Unit 3 |The Eden Project

Summary

The Eden Project in Cornwall, England, is a vast garden showcasing the relationship between plants and people. It features the world's largest biomes, including rainforest and Mediterranean environments, housing plants from around the globe. Visitors learn about sustainable practices and environmental responsibility, with exhibits on recycling, renewable energy, and the global impact of our choices. The project emphasizes the importance of supporting sustainable farming, reducing waste, and considering the environmental consequences of consumer habits, inspiring positive change through individual actions.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Eden Project is an environmental attraction in Cornwall, England, promoting sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
• 😀 The Eden Project was created in an old quarry and now features a vast garden showcasing the relationship between plants and people.
• 😀 The project attracts over a million visitors annually, making it one of the UK's most popular tourist destinations.
• 😀 Eden's biomes include the world's largest greenhouses, the Rainforest Biome and the Mediterranean Biome, housing plants from around the world.
• 😀 The Mediterranean Biome provides a warm, dry environment for plants that cannot thrive in the UK's climate due to low sunshine and high rainfall.
• 😀 The Rainforest Biome is hot and wet, with a waterfall inside, replicating tropical conditions that are too cold for the UK to sustain naturally.
• 😀 The Eden Project emphasizes sustainable living by offering incentives for walking or cycling to the site and using renewable energy sources like solar power.
• 😀 Exhibits at the Eden Project highlight the environmental impact of individual choices and encourage visitors to adopt eco-friendly habits.
• 😀 One notable exhibit, a sculpture called 'We Man,' is made from e-waste and showcases the vast amount of electrical appliances discarded by the average Brit.
• 😀 Eden highlights the importance of sustainable farming practices and Fairtrade products, which help support farmers and protect the environment.

Q & A

What is the Eden Project and where is it located?

The Eden Project is an enormous garden located in Cornwall, in the southwest of England. It explores the relationship between plants and people and encourages environmental responsibility.

How did the Eden Project come into existence?

The Eden Project was originally an empty quarry, but it has been transformed into a large garden that showcases global environmental initiatives and plant diversity.

What are the two main biomes at the Eden Project?

The two main biomes at the Eden Project are the Rainforest Biome and the Mediterranean Biome, each hosting plants from specific global climates.

Why are there biomes with tropical and Mediterranean plants in the Eden Project?

The biomes house plants that require specific climates, such as warm and dry conditions for Mediterranean plants and hot and wet conditions for rainforest plants. These conditions are difficult to replicate outdoors in the UK.

What does the Eden Project encourage visitors to do regarding the environment?

The Eden Project encourages visitors to think responsibly about their environmental impact. It promotes actions like walking or cycling to the venue, recycling, and using renewable energy.

What is the significance of the sculpture 'We Man' at the Eden Project?

'We Man' is a sculpture made from waste electrical and electronic equipment, weighing over three tonnes. It represents the amount of electrical waste the average British person produces in a lifetime, highlighting the importance of reducing waste and recycling.

How does the Eden Project raise awareness about the environmental impact of consumer choices?

Through exhibits like 'We Man' and displays on Fairtrade products, the Eden Project shows how individual choices, such as purchasing or discarding electrical gadgets and supporting sustainable farming, can have a global impact.

What is the size of the Rainforest Biome and why is it important?

The Rainforest Biome is 240 meters long and 110 meters wide. It highlights the importance of rainforests, with an area the size of the biome disappearing every 10 seconds, stressing the urgency of protecting these ecosystems.

What role does Fairtrade play in sustainable development, according to the Eden Project?

Fairtrade helps support sustainable farming by ensuring farmers receive fair wages and encouraging eco-friendly practices. This initiative promotes both environmental protection and social equity.

How does the Eden Project show the global impact of our choices in supermarkets?

The Eden Project demonstrates how our supermarket choices, such as supporting Fairtrade products, can help protect the environment and ensure fair wages for farmers, which has a global impact.