Tim Smit
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'''Tim Smit''' (born [[1954]]) is a [[Netherlands]]-born [[United Kingdom|British]] businessman, famous for his work on the '[[Lost Gardens of Heligan]]' and the [[Eden Project, Cornwall|Eden Project]], both in [[Cornwall]], [[England]].
Born in [[Scheveningen]], he was educated at [[Cranbrook School Kent|Cranbrook School]], [[Kent]], in England, and studied [[archaeology]] and [[anthropology]] at [[Durham University|Durham]]. He worked as an archaeologist before taking an unexpected leap into the music business, working as both a song-writer and producer receiving seven [[Music recording sales certification|platinum and gold discs]]. Contrary to many reports he was not a 'millionaire record producer'. He had modest success in Europe with an album called 'Midnight Blue - a Project with Louise Tucker'. Other than that, he was jobbing record producer / songwriter / arranger.
In [[1987]] he moved with his family to Cornwall and became involved with Rob Poole, John Nelson and Heligan. During his time at Heligan, Smit wrote a popular book about the project.
Later he started the [[Eden Project, Cornwall|Eden Project]], near [[St Austell]], an £80 million initiative to build three transparent [[biomes]] in an old [[china clay]] pit. The biomes contain different eco-climates loosely based on the different climates found throughout the world - tropical jungle, temperate, and desert. Eden professes to educate people about environmental matters and encourages a greater understanding and empathy with these matters. Smit was mainly involved in raising the needed funds; the site design was by [[Nicholas Grimshaw]].
He was awarded the [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] in the 2002 [[New Years Honours List]], and in 2006 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Design degree by the [[University of the West of England]] "in recognition of his outstanding achievements in promoting the understanding and practise of the responsible management of the vital relationship between plants, people and resources, which have made a major contribution regionally, nationally and internationally to sustainable development, tourism, architecture and landscape architecture".
Tim Smit has recently become a Social Enterprise Ambassador. Social enterprises use a business to address a social or environmental need. To find out more about Social Enterprise Ambassadors and the work they do, visit the [http://www.socialenterpriseambassadors.org Social Enterprise Ambassadors website.]The Social Enterprise Ambassadors programme is led by the [http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk Social Enterprise Coalition]and is supported by the [http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/ Office of the Third Sector].
==External links==
* [http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/page.asp?id=3099 Tim Smit - A new eden] talk at the [[Royal Society]]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/profile/tim_smit.shtml BBC Four profile of Tim Smit]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3233675.stm Tim Smit: Garden of Wales is a National Treasure]
[[Category:1954 births|Smit, Tim]]
[[Category:Living people|Smit, Tim]]
[[Category:Alumni of Durham University|Smit, Tim]]
[[Category:People associated with the University of the West of England]]
[[de:Tim Smit]]