The Eden Project is a popular educational destination located about 400 kilometers west of London, near the city of Plymouth. It features two large greenhouses, which are the largest in the world. The project covers an area of 120 dunams and is home to over 1 million different plants. One greenhouse houses plants from rainforests, while the other showcases plants from the Mediterranean region. Each greenhouse provides a carefully controlled environment that resembles the natural habitat of the plants.
The project was initiated in the 1990s by Tim Smit, who was concerned about the lack of awareness regarding the consequences of damaging nature. Smit aimed to create an educational platform where visitors could witness the wonders of nature and learn how to protect them. The Eden Project has attracted 20 million visitors of all ages, who have explored the greenhouses and participated in educational programs.
Due to its success, Smit plans to establish Eden Projects in other parts of the world. A project focused on environmental issues related to water is set to be built in China, while others are planned for Australia and New Zealand.
Building each Eden Project requires a significant investment of hundreds of millions of dollars due to their size and complexity. However, Smit believes that the costs can be recovered within ten years through visitor revenues. Additionally, he emphasizes the immeasurable value of educating millions of people about their responsibility towards the world around them.