Eden Orchestra tunes up for a magical May half-term

Vibrant musical performances, fluttering flags, family trails and a sense of celebration await visitors to the Eden Project this May half-term.

The new programme sees the return of the Eden Orchestra, eight Cornish musicians who form exclusively to perform at the Project.

Visitors will be able to hear the joyful sounds of the orchestra live in the Mediterranean Biome, where the musicians will be playing at four socially-distanced stations.

The 30-minute sessions will take place five times a day and will cover everything from classical to pop.

The performances are designed to create a continuous sound throughout the Biome, allowing audiences to hear the music and soak up the atmosphere as they enjoy their journey.

A brand-new trail for all the family showcases the incredible resilience of plants and the amazing journeys they take to provide the Earth with wild and diverse flora.

Visitors can discover the stories of 11 different plant species, found throughout Eden’s gardens.

By flying, floating and making underground networks, these plants have travelled the globe in their quest to survive, giving us hope for a continued diverse planet.

Using their activity sheets, young adventurers can imagine themselves as a plant and design their own journey of survival, while trying to find eight giant seeds hidden within the Biomes.

In the Stage area, a graphic-based exhibition celebrates 20 years of Eden, highlighting the project’s many achievements since its doors first opened in March 2001, including its international projects and its work with Eden Project Communities and The Big Lunch. The exhibition looks to the future with ‘Make the Change’ exploring ways we can all work together to make a difference and work towards a positive future.

Within the exhibition lies the Little Land of Big Lunches. This impressive 2.5m² model village was commissioned by the National Lottery and creates a replica of real Big Lunches.

Adding to the festival-like atmosphere are 36 flags, each four metres in size, flying high in the Arena area, whilst bunting and ribbons decorate the Eden Project site to compliment the general refreshing and repainting of various areas.

Following the longest closure in its 20-year history and a huge team effort to prepare the site for reopening, Eden welcomed its first public visitors in five months on Monday May 17.

The Eden Project has hailed a recent £249,500 grant from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport through Arts Council England as a huge boost for the organisation’s cultural programme as it bounces back from the closure. 

It was one of more than 300 organisations receiving a grant, channelled through the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, aimed at having a positive impact on the sector now and into the future.

Eden’s Director of Interpretation Jo Elworthy said: “After an heroic effort by all involved to get our wonderful venue ready for reopening, we are delighted to be able to welcome visitors this half-term with a new programme full of creativity, hope and joy. A huge thank you to Arts Council England for supporting this cultural programme and helping us on our road to recovery.”

Eden is continuing to limit guest numbers and has timed ticketing so that social distancing can be maintained with confidence. Tickets must be pre-booked online through www.edenproject.com.