Eden Project popular, idyllic

It was good to read that Dr Liz Gordon of Hornby had visited us here in the UK, but try as we might we couldn’t recognise the less than flattering picture of the Eden Project she presented. (Letters, Oct 4).

Not popular with locals? Try telling that to the 75,000 local passholders who visit us at least three times a year. Most of our 500 staff come from the locality and around here we are credited with creating more than 2000 jobs. Our economic impact on the region is measured at £1.7 billion in one of our country’s most remote and challenged corners.

Laid off many staff? There have been no significant job cuts since 2013 – we have been actively growing the business since then.

Struggling to survive? We are thriving. We have shown a healthy trading surplus for the past four years.

We respect Dr Gordon’s right to her view. It’s just not one we hear very often from the one millionplus visitors who wander our biomes annually or from those

who hailed us the greatest British landmark of the 21st century.

We have committed so much to the idea of bringing the best of the Eden Project to the very special city of Christchurch and we genuinely hope that we can, with our partners, make this work.

David Harland

Eden Project International CEO