A sharp-eyed mum won ‘The Hunt for the Golden Biome’ as the Eden Project passed the 20 million visitor mark.

Michelle Dunn and her three children Rohan (12), Senara (five) and one-year-old Locryn were visiting from their home in the nearby village of Penwithick when Michelle found the Golden Biome hidden in the Rainforest Biome.

Eden had calculated its 20 millionth visitor since it fully opened on March 17, 2001, would arrive on Monday (April 9), and devised The Hunt for the Golden Biome as a way to celebrate the landmark figure.  

Like hundreds of others, Michelle was following clues on social media. 

The second clue – ‘If you’re warm, you’re warm’ - steered her to the Rainforest Biome and she found the Golden Biome covered in leaves and hidden in a gap between two wooden boxes behind the bow of the Tropics Trader, the ship-shaped exhibit near the entrance.

She called the number on the bottom of the Golden Biome and shortly afterwards was presented with her prize by Eden chief executive Gordon Seabright.

Michelle and family were given a basketful of gifts from the Eden Shop plus joint family Eden Project membership, a pair of Eden Sessions tickets to a 2018 concert, lunch in the Mediterranean Biome for the family, and a ride for the family on the Hangloose Skywire which flies over the site. 

Michelle, whose husband Martin works at china clay company Imerys, said: ‘It’s a lovely prize.  We love Eden.  We have been coming here since it was built and nowadays we come all the time with the family.’

The family already have an annual pass to visit Eden and will use their prize pass when the current one runs out.   Michelle was especially pleased with the prize of a pair of Sessions tickets as she has yet to see a concert at Eden.

Gordon Seabright said: ‘How great that a family from the Clay Country whose children love to play at Eden should find our Golden Biome made of clay and win the big prize.  Congratulations and thanks to Michelle and the children for making our 20 millionth visitor day a very special one.’

The Golden Biome was made out of clay by Eden designer Lou Thorn and lacquered with gold-coloured paint.