The two covered Biomes and the outdoor landscape that would house thousands of plants from around the world slowly took shape. The horticultural team from Watering Lane Nursery, just a few miles from the pit, had nurtured the plants for the Biomes and surrounding grounds.

By the time the visitor centre opened in May 2001, it had already become an international symbol of world-class architecture and brought a new lease of life to a barren area of land in Cornwall.

The bold vision of creating a spectacular theatre in which to tell the story of human dependence on plants had become reality in a quite awesome fashion. The test – whether the public would come – was a resounding yes!

So is it all finished?

No; indeed the Eden Project team hope it never will be. Like all gardens, Eden will change and grow over time. On opening day the two conservatories were completely planted but work will be ongoing in the outdoor landscape right across the year. No gardens look their best in March but as all the outdoor plants began to appear later in the spring and into summer Eden will start to look as spectacular outside as it already does inside its giant Biomes.