(For a bit of fun, every Friday our Plant Records Manager, Chris Bisson, the guy who maintains all the recorded information on our plant collections, will do a regular blog slot where he recommends his favourite “plant records” – that is, songs that are in some way linked to a plant. (Do you see what we did there?) )

‘New Rose’ – The Damned (1976)

A staple of the English cottage garden, the rose comes in many forms from the rambling dog rose (Rosa canina) with its delicate pink flowers to the showy blooms of the bushy shrub Rosa alba. The superb fragrance of many roses has guaranteed that the essential oil has been a vital ingredient of perfume for centuries.

The Damned released this first UK punk single way back in 1976 before going on to be important in the development of goth during the 1980s. Despite a history of break ups and reformations, the group continues to play live and still feature two of the original members, Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible.

Thanks to Simon for this one!

Chris Bisson – Plant Records Manager – Eden Project

(For a bit of fun, every Friday our Plant Records Manager, Chris Bisson, the guy who maintains all the recorded information on our plant collections, will do a regular blog slot where he recommends his favourite “plant records” – that is, songs that are in some way linked to a plant. (Do you see what we did there?) )

‘Kid Creole & The Coconuts’ – Don’t Take My Coconuts (1983)

The Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is a fantastic palm that can grow up to 30 m. high. When discovered by Portugese explorers, the hard, brown hairy fruit reminded them of a witch or a ghost called ‘Coco’ and when the Coco first landed in the UK we added the ‘nut’ part.

A truly tropical plant, the Coconut Palm has such a warming presence…and of course great tasting fruit!

Kid Creole and the Coconuts have been going since 1980, but the lead singer Thomas August Darnell Browder, was born in 1950! And is still keeping the band on the road!

Chris Bisson – Plant Records Manager – Eden Project

(For a bit of fun, every Friday our Plant Records Manager, Chris Bisson, the guy who maintains all the recorded information on our plant collections, will do a regular blog slot where he recommends his favourite “plant records” – that is, songs that are in some way linked to a plant. (Do you see what we did there?) )

‘Johnny B. Goode’ – Chuck Berry (1958)

As the sun comes out and beats down on our lovely plants, the berries ripen, and get sweet and juicy! Here at Eden, we’ve got all types of sumptuous berries…and what with wimbledon round the corner…you can bet a fair few strawberries will be eaten.

Chuck Berry, what a legend…end of! I wish I could dance like that wearing a suit!

Chris Bisson – Plant Records Manager – Eden Project

Eden has a hunch that our neighbours could be the biggest untapped potential in our lives, so it came up with The Big Lunch, a one-day get-together for neighbours.

On one day last summer, the best part of a million people got together across the country to sit together and eat lunch, play games and generally get to know each other better (check out the photos). They told us they loved it and said they feel better about where they live – so we’re hoping even more of you will join us this year on Sunday 18th July.

Hundreds of thousands are already expected to take part around the UK, and are starting up local Big Lunches on their doorstep. Find out if there’s anyone thinking along the same lines in your own street, by entering your postcode on our map.

(For a bit of fun, every Friday our Plant Records Manager, Chris Bisson, the guy who maintains all the recorded information on our plant collections, will do a regular blog slot where he recommends his favourite “plant records” – that is, songs that are in some way linked to a plant. (Do you see what we did there?) )

‘Push Th’ Little Daisies’ – Ween (1992)

The common name Daisy is often used to describe plants in the Asteraceae Family. Containing well over 22,000 accepted species it is a whopper of a plant family! In the UK our daisy is Bellis perennis which is starting to swathe over lawns, playing fields and parks during these summer months.

Ween were formed in 1984, and have never really fit into a genre, ranging from lo-fi to the neo-psychedelia. This song was released in 1992 and being their first music video got them onto the massively popular MTV.

Chris Bisson – Plant Records Manager – Eden Project

(For a bit of fun, every Friday our Plant Records Manager, Chris Bisson, the guy who maintains all the recorded information on our plant collections, will do a regular blog slot where he recommends his favourite “plant records” – that is, songs that are in some way linked to a plant. (Do you see what we did there?) )

‘The King of Rock n Roll’ – Prefab Sprout (1988)

Sprouts (Brassica oleracea Gemmifera Group), you either love ‘em or hate ‘em! Basically they are mini cabbages! sprouting as green leafy buds, full of vitamins, folic acid and fibre. A member of the mighty Brassicaceae Family, we have loads of different types of Brassicas here at Eden.

This classic record makes reference to a washed-up ’50s star who is only remembered for his  one hit novelty song, which is sung in the chorus. Ironically, it  remains as the band’s biggest success in their native UK, where it reached #7 on the UK Singles Chart.

Which Brassica is your favourite?

Chris Bisson – Plant Records Manager – Eden Project

Homeless people and prisoners on day release have created the biggest garden ever seen at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Five hundred people supported by 43 homelessness agencies and 50 from eight prisons have teamed up with gardeners from the Eden Project to grow and plant the Places of Change garden, led by award-winning designer Paul Stone.

With its forest garden and traditional woodland hut alongside a range of trees and foraging plants, it is proving a magnet for early visitors – including some top celebrities – to the world’s most famous flower show, which officially opens tomorrow (Tuesday May 25).

This weekend saw The Big Lunch launch in London with a spectacular 3D image by world-famous 3D artist Kurt Wenner.

The five-by-five metre 3D masterpiece, took a total of four hours to create and sees giant sandwiches, fruit, cakes, burgers, buns and cups of tea breaking free from a Big Lunch table and “floating up” into the hands of the surrounding Big Lunchers. Kurt said “The scene I have created is vibrant, colourful and joyous, born from people of all walks of life coming together and enjoying the unique community and friendship feel of many Big Lunch events.” See how the image was made in this video, or watch an interview with Kurt Wenner.

Eden Project and Big Lunch co-founder Tim Smit who attended Friday’s launch told us, “We believe it’s important to see neighbours and communities come together to break down barriers and build bridges with each other. It’s time we realise that our streets are more than just pavements but solid foundations for our future happiness. Holding a Big Lunch is the perfect opportunity to take the first step towards this.”

The Big Lunch 2010 is now only eight weeks away, so if you’re inspired to take part, visit www.thebiglunch.com for more information.

(For a bit of fun, every Friday our Plant Records Manager, Chris Bisson, the guy who maintains all the recorded information on our plant collections, will do a regular blog slot where he recommends his favourite “plant records” – that is, songs that are in some way linked to a plant. (Do you see what we did there?) )

‘The Ghost of Stephen Foster’ – Squirrel Nut Zippers (1999)

Our Cashews are fruiting! The nut which we all know and love grows inside a kidney-shaped shell, attached to the ‘apple’ of the cashew. This fruit is edible but we don’t get it over here as the skin is very fragile, making it unsuitable for transport.

The Squirrel Nut Zippers are a band from the States, and this amazing video was put together by the same crew that did the Simpsons, watch, enjoy and dig the nuts!

Chris Bisson – Plant Records Manager – Eden Project

Eden welcomed two very special visitors last Friday from Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo. Mutang a Kelabit tribesperson, politically exiled in Canada for 15 years, and  Balang who’s still living and working in Sarawak. Both had been visiting the extraordinary Bruno Manser Fund in Switzerland and kindly agreed to visit Eden to tell us their story.

Mutang, Balang and their volunteer workforce – made up of members of the horticulture and design teams – miraculously knocked up a typical Penan hut – using materials harvested entirely from the biome – in 8 hours flat. The hut would traditionally be used by nomadic family groups for about 4 months as their hunting and foraging base camp – but despite our very best efforts Mutang told me if he’d had a better labour force (i.e. a couple of Penan children) they could have made it in about half the time!

The happy team and the completed Penan hut made from Biome plants.

Despite the, obviously, shoddy machete-wielding Cornish workers there were some real highlights for the team. Justine Quinn, Eden’s Interpretation Manager, said she’d never forget the sight of 6 “strapping young men” (her words, not mine) “playing tug o’ war” with a 25 m Rattan palm growing up the edge of the biome. The coiled rattan now sits proudly outside the hut waiting to be turned into furniture or other useful bits of kit!

In a powerful twist of irony the roof for the hut was made from fronds from the Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) that are planted opposite the hut. It’s the massive and relentless spread of Oil Palm in Borneo and much of Southeast Asia that has contributed so much to the sad plight of local people and other forest dwellers such as the Orangutan. Eden’s gathered quotes from many people involved in, or affected by, the Oil Palm story so make sure you read them next time you’re visiting.

This gecko jumped on John Nichol's shoulder while he was cutting fronds off the Oil Palms for making the roof.

John Nichol, Rainforest Biome Supervisor, told me: “It’s magical that we could make an entire dwelling out of materials harvested from our forest in just a few hours. I can’t think of any other place in the UK that could do this. But most importantly we all made some good new friends, and that’s what Eden’s all about.”

Mutang tightening the ropes holding the hut together.

Mutang and Balang’s visit wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Bruno Manser Fund so please visit their website to find out more about how you can help the Penan people in their fight against deforestation and the spread of Oil Palm plantations. And don’t forget to come and enjoy the hut and its stories next to the rubber exhibit in the Biome.

Article by Dan Ryan