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Eden Project Edition, Cornwall, UK, 2021

Commissioned by the Eden Project, the Eden Project Edition is the original Pollinator Pathmaker garden. Located in the Outdoor Gardens overlooking the biomes of Eden’s Cornwall site, two large beds covering a 55 x 23m plot were planted in September 2021, with its formal opening in May 2022.

The Pollinator Pathmaker Eden Project Edition, photographed in July 2022. Photo: Royston Hunt

The Pollinator Pathmaker algorithm chose and then arranged 64 plant species from the Plant Palette to support the greatest diversity of pollinators. The planting includes perennials such as the towering Echium pininana loved by moths, solitary bees, bumblebees, honey bees, and butterflies, the Cornish heath Erica vagans which attracts bumblebees, flies, hoverflies, butterflies, and moths, and Aquilegia vulgaris, a favourite for short- and long-tongued bumblebees.

Eden’s horticulture apprentices and landscape students help with the planting of the first Pollinator Pathmaker Edition. Photo: © Steve Tanner.

The planting provides forage over the year as different pollinators emerge with the blooming of their favourite flowers. It also provides habitat with seedheads over winter, and a ‘matrix’ of grasses.

Animation showing the Eden Project Edition blooming through the seasons.

Bird’s-eye view of the Eden Project Edition being planted.

The Eden Project Edition is part of Create A Buzz, a three-year programme at Eden that focuses on the alarming decline of pollinators, their vital role, and the need for their conservation, funded by the Garfield Weston Foundation.

Digital renderings of the Eden Project Edition, in spring, summer, autumn, and winter (details).

Pollinator Pathmaker Eden Project Edition will be temporarily closed over winter for maintenance. See you in Spring!

The Plant List

Digitalis ferruginea nestled between grasses. Photo: Royston Hunt

The Eden Project Edition contains 64 plant species, supporting pollinators from long-tongued bumblebees to butterflies to moths and hoverflies. The plant list is organised by flowering time, from early spring to winter. We had to make some substitutions due to availability; each one was checked to ensure that the same pollinators visited it, and that it flowered at the same time. Use the Plant Finder to see the painting of each plant and learn about its pollinators.

Verbena hasata and Verbascum nigrum at the Pollinator Pathmaker Eden Project Edition Garden, July 2022. Photo: Royston Hunt

Acknowledgements

Dr. Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg

Designer and Researcher Iman Datoo
Producer Cecilie Gravesen
Studio Manager Emily Sofaly

Eden Project

Curators Misha Curson, Céline Holman, Hannah Hooks
Associate Curator and Project Manager Sara Matson
Interpretation Dr Jo Elworthy and the Interpretation Team
Horticulture Colin Skelly, Julie Kendall, Jane Knight, and the Living Landscapes Team
Beekeeper Rodger Dewhurst

PR Nicola Jeffs, O’Leary Jeffs

Expert Advisors
Professor Dave Goulson, Marc Carlton, Professor Lars Chittka, Dr Jolyon Troscianko, Markus Radscheit MSc., and Tom Keay

Eden Apprentices
Vicky Carter, Georgina Tackaberry, Yasmin Macneil, Nile Maskell, Alex Lanteigne, Caroline Pheasey, and Aaron Sexton
Students from MSc Land & Ecological Restoration at the Eden Project

The Pollinator Pathmaker Eden Project Edition, photographed in July 2022. Photo: Royston Hunt