Ron Wain and his family took a caravan holiday in south east Cornwall - and found the Eden Project one hot attraction - literally...

"BUBBLES!" Well, actually, son, no. They're referred to as biomes, or the eighth wonder of the world, but call 'em what you like.

Not that Rory, all 27 months of him, was remotely interested in the Eden Project with its futuristic glasshouses so tall that you could plonk the Tower of London in one of them.

His reverence for nature was such that he broke away from a momentary lapse in parental control to trample over a few Mediterranean plants in the Warm Temperate Biome, wiping out some unique bio-diversity stock.

Mother distanced herself from Rory's actions by expressing a sudden interest in gnarled olive trees, while six-year-old sister Lydia became a rapid expert on citrus fruits.

Still, it was nice to see the children making the connection between what we eat and how it grows, although interacting with the flora by treading on it may have been taking things too far.

Actually, we needn't have even walked into the biomes, which were built with the largest birdcage scaffolding on the planet, to keep the young 'uns interested.

Their fascination lay with a thoroughly entertaining exhibition in the ticket hall, where life-size figures of a man and woman lose all their clothes, and dignity, before they faint puppet-like to the kitchen floor.

The idea behind this thought-provoking display, involving intricate pulleys, is to show how dependent we all are on plants for food, clothes and shelter.

Even the couple's poor old cat keels over dead because his saucer of milk dries up.

Rory and Lydia were enthralled by the doomsday show, roaring with laughter at the naked man's wooden appendage.

It was a welcome rest for them after our adventure in the Humid Tropics Biome - the world's largest greenhouse, with plantations of cocoa, coffee and rubber, exotic butterflies, teak and mahogany trees, weird-looking rain forest flowers and blasting sprays of fine mist.

This cathedral of light and space, with its wonderful scents and lush greenery, also doubles as a sauna.

There's even a 'refuge' shelter by the thundering waterfall at the top of this awe-inspiring biome, some 55 metres high, for those people in need of temporary relief from the sweats.

Heck, we loved the biome. It was like being abroad. Jenny and I could feel the sap rising - ours, that is.

The Eden Project cost us a good-value £22 (adults £9.50 each, children five to 15 £4, under-fives free, family £22).

We intend going back, even if it is to restock those plants Rory trod on.

These gigantic geodesic conservatories nestle within a 50-metre deep former clay pit near St Austell Bay, less than a 30-minute drive from our countryside caravan site.

Looe Bay Holiday Park, where we stayed, couldn't quite, understandably, match the botanical brilliance of the Eden Project, but it has bagged the David Bellamy Gold and Looe in Bloom 2000 award.

For families, this clean-kept park is just the ticket, with its heated indoor swimming pool, toddlers' play zone, children's club, adventure playground, sports pitches and amusements.

For the parents, once those youngsters are worn out, there's an entertainment hall, pub and restaurant.

During the day we'd head out for the unspoilt beaches, such as Portwrinkle or Looe, before piling on the fun back at the nearby holiday park.

The only low point on our four-day break - and that was swiftly resolved - occurred when Rory lost his Thunderbirds T2 rocket on the crazy golf course.

Lydia boldly went out on a search-and-rescue mission, triumphantly returning with his plastic green toy. Grins and cheers all round.

If only life was that

simple.

n Ron Wain and family were guests of Exeter-based Weststar Holiday Parks: 01392 447 447, /www.weststarholidays.co.uk

Prices for a week's standard six-berth caravan holiday home at Looe Bay in May are from £155 and in July (peak weeks) from £325. The price includes gas and electricity, the pool, children's club, bed linen and nightly entertainment.

n For more information about the Eden Project call 01726 811911

The Biomes of the Eden Project in Cornwall