The Eden Project

Whilst in Devon we went on a day trip to the Eden Project. I've been wanting to go for ages, and it wasn't a disappointment! The site is stunning, especially when you consider how it looked not so long ago as an old clay pit! It's so encouraging to see such a beautiful place being created from rubble. 

One of the messages I think the place was trying to get across was how much we depend on plants - for everything from medicine to clothes to the air we breathe. For example, Madagascar Periwinkle which "has saved thousands of lives in the treatment of childhood leukemia". There were lots of signs about explaining things like this, such as the one below. After working with some special needs kids this summer I also appreciate the fact that they used basic images/sign language illustrations on the signs.

It also emphasised the need to protect natural areas like this. It's staggering to read signs like this:

This 'Sensitive Plant' was particularly cool - it has a primitive nervous system and closes up when touched.

Here's Dad looking every bit the intrepid amazonian explorer!

There were also some stunning creations around, such as this horse and pigs made from pieces of wood. They're so realistic and accurate!

This was another sculpture - "WEEE Man" made up of the 3. 3 tonnes of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment thrown away by an average UK person during their lifetime.

The shop was amazing! Lots of interesting things, like this bag made out of recycled ring pulls!

I purchased one of these bags for carrying Uni folders in - 2 for £5, bargainous!

There were also some lovely things made out of bamboo, although slightly pricey. If you fancy an online shop you can go here.

I appreciated the Cafe name! In the main eating area you could see all the food being prepared, like huge mounds of dough! Apparently 90% of all materials used at Eden are locally sourced.

Overall a really impressive place. It was all started up by a guy called Tim Smit, some randomer who had done a degree in Archaeology and Anthropology and then worked in the music industry for 10 years, before dreaming up the idea of the Eden Project. It was completed almost exactly on schedule. Smit sounds like a pretty crazy person to work for - during interviews applicants are asked to perform/dance/juggle/etc for 10 minutes. If accepted, you are then asked to do various activities during your career such as cooking meals for your colleagues, watching foreign films, and reading books you wouldn't have naturally chosen.

Anyway def recommend a visit, it's really beautiful and inspiring. Another collage to finish with!

Cornish Delights

Summer is slowly shuffling away again.. I have had about 3 months of holidays which is a quarter of a year i.e. a lot... So I'm ready to say an amicable goodbye - Autumn is good too.

Been doing quite a menagerie of things, one of the latest adventures involved the family and Cornwall. We stayed near Falmouth and had luscious weather.

We stayed in a cottage with this address

...which was almost perfect except for the fact that there were four Fox's inhabiting!

It was small but lovely, and the back door led out to some decking on the edge of a harbour. Perfect spot for breakfast! Dad got this shot of me just as I was about to sit out and tuck in one morn.

I love Cornwall - it's full of arty-crafty-handmade-eco-natural goodness, the kind of stuff that makes me feel slightly faint and delirious and I have to sit down for a while because it just enthralls me so much.

There was a cafe just around the corner from the cottage called Miss Peapod's which was very much along those lines - it was part of a series of buildings powered using renewables, including these wind turbines.

The cafe was one of those nice businesses which actually have morals, such as using local organic ingredients. I had a banging bangers and mash! The Muv and I also went for a coffee/apple & ginger tea and sat outside reading Positive News - an eco newspaper that was available in Peapod's. The cafe had a seating area outside on the edge of the harbour with sofas. It started raining while we were there but it was sheltered where we were and I like rain so that just added to the atmosphere!

My respect for the place also grew with this poster. Monobrow party anyone?

There were also loads of lovely crafty intriguing shops in Falmouth. One was an old semi-antique/second hand place which sold a wooden duck telephone and authentic 70s knitted jumpers. A lot of the shops sold fairtrade goods which are always wonderful. There was also another which sold globe lampshades made from music scores. 

Also in my Top 10 shops was this one, which was closed and empty, aside from this dinosaur in the window with a sticker on stating "I Am The Stig"

One quirky kitchen shop sold stuff by Rob Ryan, who you might recognise as he is sold by some popular shops like Urban Outfitters. I love this plate.

 

I also picked up a business card in Newquay for a local artist called Abi Withers. I like her work, despite the fact that every piece she has done has used the same (relatively easy-looking) techinique and isn't quite worth the price! One side of her card was just a photo of one of her artworks though and is really pretty, I was thinking of mounting it in a tiny frame for a low budget decoration piece!

Aside from being bowled over by all these beautalicious things, also explored the area a bit. Went bodyboarding once and surfboarding twice - once at Newquay and once at Porthtowan. Both places had fairly impressive surf, and relatively warm water surprisingly! Porthtowan was maybe a little nicer as it was smaller and less comercialised, and up to 10ft waves! The currents were unbelievable - even in the shallows I had to dig my feet right into the sand to stand in one place, and the waves knocked you all over the place. Some people were right out the back out of view on the biggest waves, and the lifeboat did a few rounds to check they were safe.

Also went for an hour hack through the countryside including a gallop along the beach. Amazing! My horse, Lady, was brilliantly forward going yet understood the brakes too! Although she did decide to roll in the sand while I was still in the saddle, so had to leap to safety!

Also went to the Eden Project which was awesome - but will have it's own blog post. 

I'll leave you with a collage! 

(Click to enlarge)