Taking stock

Tim Smit, the man who founded the Eden Project, does not pull his punches. Sitting on a whitewashed stone bench in Eden's Mediterranean biome, he could be basking in a glow of pride as his eco-visitor attraction's 10th anniversary approaches. But instead of enjoying the balmy ambience, Smit is sounding off.

"We're a country ruled by the ethics of old men who have lost their virility," he says. "Opportunities are being missed to make Britain one of the greatest countries on Earth. If we don't make ourselves energy-independent, building on traditional British skills to do so, we're going to be in serious trouble."


A day to be inspired by the dreams of others, the incredible drive to turn these dreams into reality, and the nerve to hold their nerve and still push for the change that we need.

Wow. Just wow.