 Resembling gargantuan genetically modified albino raspberries, a project to house worldwide horticultural wonders has firmly taken root in a disused clay pit in deepest Cornwall; with ten mile queues on its first day of opening. The Eden Project houses a cornucopia of plants from around the world in huge translucent bubbles called biomes. 100,000 plants in all, from Mediterranean mosaic lined herb gardens and fruit groves to a rainforest sweltering in 40 degrees humidity, complete with plunging waterfall. |
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 In his stunning new book, Tim Smit tells the story of the creation of the Eden Project: its genesis in the Lost Gardens of Heligan, its design and construction against all the odds, its supremely talented team of larger-than-life personalities. Above all, he tells how the energy that brought the vision to life is being applied to possible futures. It is a vision for all to share. From the first pages Tim draws the reader in, infected by his boundless passion and belief in the fruition of a project that even the most hardened would tremble at. |
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 The hint of what was to become was first suggested nearly seven years ago, when Tim wanted to develop a glasshouse area within the hugely successful Lost Gardens of Heligan. Very quickly he saw that this new project called for a plan on a grand scale. He said, "I want this to be as famous a sight as the Sydney Opera House. People must know about it in Calcutta, in Beijing. It must blow the cynical cobwebs out of people's heads by sheer spectacle." |
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 Eden tells many such stories of triumph over adversity, of how Eden so nearly wasn't built. There were so many unforeseen disasters that would have destroyed the resolve of a weaker person: an unprecedented amount of rain fell in Cornwall during the initial building phase, for example - 43 million gallons of it. This nearly destroyed the pit and necessitated the invention of an astonishingly sophisticated drainage system. |
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 There is something indefinably special about Eden, beyond its scale and beauty. Everyone who works there is so full of passion for the project, and this comes through in the way that they interact with the visitors. It is part of Tim's philosophy for Eden that the people who work there feel a part of the culture and that every employee knows that they play a vital role. Tim has developed a two week training period for new staff, part of which is with the innovative Kneehigh Theatre Company. In this way, he hopes that the staff not only feel special but that they also get the message across that Eden is special too. And this all works towards Tim's aim for Eden:"Eden is concerned with exploring development in the fullest sense of the word: the sustainable development of human potential and the achievement of the optimum quality of life for all, across economic, social and cultural boundaries." |
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