Daffs flowering a month early prove that Eden is right on the Edge

Gardeners at the Eden Project have been astounded by the arrival of two varieties of daffodil growing outdoors weeks ahead of schedule.
The flowers known as Paper White and Early Sensation have blossomed next to Eden’s world-famous Biomes, drawing amazed glances from thousands of late autumn visitors.

Right now Eden is bidding for £50 million from the Big Lottery Fund to create the Edge – a visionary new building meeting the challenges of climate change.

Evidence of shifting climate patterns in the form of the unseasonable blooms has brought the big issue right home to the project’s Green Team.

Adrian Lovatt, Assistant Temperate Curator, said: “The exceptionally mild weather so far this year is having a remarkable effect upon the horticultural display. The two varieties of daffodil have already begun to flower way ahead of expectations.

"Narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’ is an exceptionally early flowering variety even in a normal year. Right now it is almost a month ahead of its typical flowering time. The bulbs have been in the ground since last year.

“This traditional Cornish variety has been an important breeding parent influencing the early flowering varieties that come from Cornwall’s world renowned daffodil growing industry.

“In a more typical year it flowers just before Christmas Day and continues right through to New Year. This year it is set to be in full bloom in the first week of December!”

Adrian added: “Similarly we have planted out 2000 Narcissus ‘Paper White’ bulbs that are now flowering way ahead of time.

“This variety has traditionally been used as a highly-scented forcing bulb especially grown in heated greenhouses and carefully prepared to flower for Christmas time.

“Our bulbs have been planted outside a month ago and because of our recent mild weather will be in full flower before December has even begun.”

Cornwall is renowned for its moderate climate and with forecasters predicting a wet and mild winter the Eden gardeners are expecting more exceptional happenings in the giant outdoor garden.

The Edge represents the next great phase at Eden, It will be a visionary new building meeting the challenges of climate change. Its scale and ambition will make it an international icon of sustainability. The building will be a model of cutting-edge architecture and technology, harvesting water and energy from the sun, wind, and rain to show how we all might live in the future.

It will be a testament to one-planet living, built to the lowest possible carbon footprint and designed to last. Inside there will be amazing desert, oasis and water gardens on a scale never attempted undercover.

The Edge is one of four projects competing in the Big Lottery Fund’s: the People’s £50 Million Contest. The winning project will be decided by a public vote. Internet voting is now open and phone voting is during December 7-10.

On Monday December 3, a series of TV programmes about each of the projects is due to start with the Edge being championed by survival expert Ray Mears.