The Eden Project is an outstanding botanical garden, conservation tourist attraction and educational charity. This green theme park has around a million plants of just under 4,000 species and features two gigantic Biomes, the biggest conservatories in the world, constructed in a former china clay quarry. The Rainforest Biome houses plants from the humid tropical regions, and the Mediterranean Biome has plants from the world’s warm temperate regions. Most are not rare, some tell stories of the need for conservation, and many were grown from seed in Eden’s nursery. There is plenty to explore outdoors too as over three quarters of Eden’s planting is outside. There are discounts on admission prices for walkers and cyclists.

The Deep

Hull, East Yorkshire

The Deep is billed as the world’s only ‘submarium’. It is a futuristic and spectacular aquarium  overlooking the Humber Estuary. A vast array of marine life can be seen in over thirty aquatic exhibits which range from the shallow tropical seas to the icy depths of the deep ocean. Its tanks are home to over 3,500 fish including several species of sharks and rays. Plus there is a variety of hands on interactive and audiovisual presentations. The Deep is operated as an environmental and educational charity and has won the Green Tourism Business Scheme’s gold award for a range of energy saving and other eco friendly measures. 

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Conkers

Derbyshire

A hands on experience centre in the heart of the National Forest that’s suitable for a day out whatever the weather. Outdoors there are over 120 acres of woodland, lakes and gardens. Visitors can go on an assault course (13+), climb a viewing tower, play in the Playdale adventure play park and take a ride on the Conkerchoo train linking the Waterside and Discovery Centres.  Indoors there are four discovery zones with over 100 indoor interactive exhibits themed on the environment, the Enchanted Forest Adventure Play area and a simulated Tree Top Walk – a moving bridge through the skies. There is also a covered amphitheatre which hosts a range of music events and activities for all the family.

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BeWILDerwood

Norfolk

An award winning wild and imaginative adventure park with intriguing characters that bring a curious difference to the Norfolk Broads.  The setting for the book 'A Boggle at BeWILDerwood', by local children's author Tom Blofeld, it's a wonderful, mystical land of brave adventurous people who you may never see anywhere else. Its 50 acres are home to treehouses, zip wires, jungle bridges, Crocklebogs, Twiggles and Boggles, boat trips and marsh walks. Designed to have a light environmental impact, over 70% of waste is recycled on site and over 14,000 trees have been planted, along with upgrades to footpaths, bridleways and cycle paths.

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Goodleaf Tree Climbing

Ise of Wight

Tree climbing adventures at a secret location that is revealed only after you’ve booked. The trees are situated in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From the top there are views across the Island and the Solent to the South Coast. You are fitted with a safety harness and a hard hat, given knot tying practice, and clipped onto a rope fastened to the tree. You can hang out in the canopy, rest in a hammock and abseil to the ground. It’s all closely supervised and a share of profits goes to Trees for Life. There is a 5% green travel discount if you arrive on foot, by bike or by public transport.

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Royal Horticultural Society Gardens, Wisley

Surrey

The flagship of the RHS’s four gardens and one of the world’s greats. It has a huge plant collection, with fruit-growing, alpines, vegetables and bulbs as well as herbaceous and woody plants. It captures the imagination with richly planted borders, luscious rose gardens and the state-of-the-art Glasshouse, the size of ten tennis courts. This houses the Root Zone, a walk-through cavern which shows how plants' roots interact with soil. Would-be jungle explorers can venture into the Tropical Zone or collect different pinecones in the Arboretum and Pinetum. Like all RHS sites, Wisley aims to reduce its environmental impact through responsible purchasing, reduced use of peat and hazardous pesticides and fertilizers and improved efficiency of water systems. Free entry for RHS members.

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This is Europe’s best urban site to watch wildlife. It is one of the WWT’s network of nine specialist wetland visitor centres. Located on the banks of the River Thames it is a 43 hectare haven for over 180 species of wild bird and countless other wetland creatures. Visitors can walk round accessible tarmac paths between beautiful lakes, pools and lagoons, taking advantage of 6 different bird hides to view the wildlife. The visitor centre includes restaurant, gift shop, specialist binocular/telescope shop, children’s discovery centre and expansive glass observatory. There is an adventure area where children can hide in giant water vole burrows, fly like a bird, race ducks down the river and dodge the downpour.

This is a world-famous spiritual community, educational centre and ecovillage. It is the site of many ecological buildings and initiatives, and home to 300 people. The environment reflects experimentation, innovation, beauty and practicality. Visitors are welcome year round. There are 90 ecological structures including houses - from yurts to eco-mobile homes to state of the art projects such as straw bale housing - plus workshop spaces, The Living Machine sewage treatment centre and electricity-generating wind turbines. The Park also features gardens and the Universal Hall arts centre. It is beautifully situated on a peninsula with Findhorn Bay on one side and the dunes and coast of the Moray Firth on the other, and the village of Findhorn at its tip.

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