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Scottish Sun
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
New £32million Eden Project attraction that will be fully underground to open in the UK
Plus, more on the Eden Project set to be built the north of the UK IN THE DEEP New £32million Eden Project attraction that will be fully underground to open in the UK Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ANOTHER Eden Project is set to open in the UK - but it won't be like any of the others. On the Jurassic Coast, the plan is for the new attraction to be constructed completely underground. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The Eden Project Portland will be completely underground Credit: Eden Project Portland 4 There will be a combination of carvings and cutting-edge technology Credit: Eden Project Portland While it might be the first time some are hearing of the project, the Eden Project Portland was brought up many years ago but was paused - until now. The new Eden Project Portland will be a partnership between MEMO and the Eden Project. Speaking on Radio Solent's Dorset Breakfast show, founder and project director of MEMO, Seb Brooke said: "I believe this is going to happen now, and now is absolutely the moment." The planned project will be built in South Dorset inside disused mine and quarry tunnels. It has been called an"underground cathedral" where visitors will explore a combination of the ancient art of stone carving and cutting-edge technology. The area will be transformed into an immersive space that will tell the story of life on Earth. The Eden Project will also focus on the threats to biodiversity and how people can work towards a sustainable future. The cost of the project has been estimated at £32.7million with an opening date planned for 2028. The first in a series of many consultation events took place in early July 2025. Around the same time, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his support for the attraction. The huge new UK attraction opening in 2025 with play areas, live shows and cafes – and it's right on the beach 4 It will be built in disused quarry tunnels and mines Credit: Eden Project Portland He said it was a "hugely exciting project" and made clear that funding commitments will be made soon. When the project was discussed in 2018, it was said that the attraction could bring 325,000 visitors a year to the isle and £24million to the local economy. Up in Morecambe, there is a plan to build an Eden Project, but the opening date has been pushed back by two years. The new project costing £100m was expected to open next year, but work on the attraction is yet to start. Plans for the site show three huge egg-shaped structures looking over Morecambe Bay. Other images of the site reveal planned walkways linking treehouses together as well as other wooden structures. It will also have a "hyper-real forest" with large installations and an immersive theatre. The project was originally named Eden Project North, and the hope was that it would have the same success as the Eden Project in Cornwall, which opened in 2001. Here's more on the Eden Project resort set to open in the UK – with waterfront attractions, play areas and immersive shows. And another Eden Project attraction that is set to be the 'biggest undercover play area in Europe'.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Secret Hampshire: Inside city's largest medieval vault
Behind an inconspicuous pair of doors in a city centre, lies a vault once used for royalty, wine and war-time Vault in Southampton was built in the 12th Century to store the King's wine at a time when the port was at the centre of the wine was largely forgotten about until the 1770s when some builders accidentally knocked through, uncovering the historic Solent's Alex Hopwood ventured underground to learn more about the 800-year-old vault that lies beneath the Hampshire city. Castle Vault is one of about 60 vaults that were built in Southampton between the 12th and 15th part of Southampton Castle, it has outlived the castle castle stayed in royal hands until the early 17th Century, when it was sold by the Crown and "effectively demolished", said Southampton City Council's learning and engagement officer, Andy Skinner. Standing beneath the curved stone ceiling of the vault, Mr Skinner said: "The gateway and windows were likely blocked up, so, for a long time people would have just walked past and not known very much about it."Until the 1770s, when - above us - some builders accidentally chopped through into the vault and they peered in, presumably with a lantern, and saw this amazing space."He added there would have been ornate ribs, "almost like the skeletons of a vault" inside at that time."Within about 50 years, all of that had been taken out." Blast walls Fast forward to World War Two and the vault was used as an air raid shelter. There were approximately 100 underground spaces in Southampton that were converted into shelters, including vaults, cellars and basements. Extra walls, known as blast walls, were built and their remnants can be seen on the ceiling of Castle Vault today."We know that there were chemical toilets," said Mr Skinner. "We know that you entered via a gas-proof curtain and we know that this was designed for accommodating 170 people during the Southampton Blitz. "Difficult to imagine how it must have felt to have been in here while the bombs were falling, particularly in November and December 1940, which is when Southampton was very badly hit." 'Barred windows and gates' In the 12th Century, when the 56ft by 20ft (17m by 6m) vault was created, the city was becoming an important importer of wine from France."One of the forms of tax in those days was that one in every 10 barrels of wine could go to the King - the King's Prize," Mr Skinner explained."This was his vault for storing his wine, which explains why it is so much larger than all of the others in Southampton."Its solid construction, using stone from the Isle of Wight and some from further afield in Conne, France, meant the monarch's valuable wine haul was well-protected."The walls are incredibly thick, thicker than the other vaults in Southampton," said Mr Skinner. "They are, at their widest point, perhaps 10ft (3m)."Barred windows and gates would have made it quite tricky to get into it, padlocked gateways. "We do know that Southampton was raided in the 14th Century by primarily French attackers. We know that they did steal wine, though it appears most of that was on ships. It is unknown whether they made it as far as the King's vault."Today, the vault can be hired for small scale events, such as exhibitions, filming and ghost the council warns: "In order for the vaults to retain their historical integrity for future generations, we have made only minor concessions to modern comforts!" You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Top five Cherries of season
One Cherries fan has joined BBC Radio Solent to give his top five Bournemouth players of the 2024-25 season - and he thinks his number one choice may be "controversial".Do you agree with his picks?Listen to his selections here on BBC Sounds
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Bournemouth football pundit John 'Willo' Williams to retire
Cherries football pundit to retire from radio 6 minutes ago Share Save Share Save BBC The former Cherries player said he wanted to end on a "strong season" BBC Radio Solent's Bournemouth football pundit has announced he will retire from broadcasting at the end of the season. John "Willo" Williams has been part of the station's sports coverage of AFC Bournemouth for more than two decades. The former Cherries player-turned-commentator said he wanted "to go out on a really strong season". Colleagues praised his "infectious love of football" and said broadcasts "won't be quite the same" without him. Willo enjoyed a 15-year professional career, including five years at Bournemouth, where he later returned as a coach, before joining Radio Solent as a summariser. Announcing his retirement on Saturday, following Bournemouth's victory over Arsenal, he said: "This is going to be my last season. I've enjoyed it so much. "I want to go out on a really strong season and this one is turning out to be the season of all seasons." Willo enjoyed a 15-year professional career before turning to broadcasting Radio Solent sports editor Adam Blackmore, who has worked with Willo for 21 years, said: "Things won't be quite the same again. "His infectious love of football and his beloved Cherries has shone through the airwaves for more than two decades and has been an absolute asset for us." Radio Solent commentator and journalist Jordan Clark described Willo as an "AFC Bournemouth legend". He said: "Player, coach, scout, and then commentator - he's done it all for the Cherries over the past 40 years. "He cares deeply about the club and you hear that every time he picks up the microphone. "He'll leave a huge hole in our Cherries coverage but it will be a privilege to sit next to him for these final three games of the season and hopefully witness the Cherries qualifying for Europe for the first time." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
🎧 Misery in the Midlands
The latest episode of the Goin' Home With Adam And Jo podcast has Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore and former Saints player Jo Tessem discuss Saturday's defeat against to the full episode on BBC Sounds
