Thank-yous
None of our work and successes would be possible without the generosity of our donors and supporters. Maintaining a strong and diverse financial base is crucial to preserving the Eden Trust’s independence and credibility.
Where has the money come from?
The Millennium Commission weighed in with £37.5 million of lottery funding to single Eden out as the ‘landmark’ project of the far South West, and their subsequent contributions brought the total to just over £56 million. We hope we’ve delivered for them and for anyone who's ever bought a lottery ticket.
Other major sources of funding included the EU and Southwest Regional Development Agency (some £50 million between them) and £20 million of commercial loans. The balance was made up of £8 million of other loans and some funds generated by Eden itself and reinvested back into the Project.
What difference have we made with the money?
Eden employs some 650 members and gives another 300 people the opportunity to volunteer with us. Since opening to the public in 2001, the place has attracted around 13 million visitors and inspired an economic renaissance in Cornwall by contributing over £1 billion to the local economy.
What have we spent it on?
| How we built this place | How much? (£ million) |
|---|---|
| Buying a large and unusual site, car parks, roads and paths | 16 |
| Reshaping the ground to make it safe, dry and useful | 8 |
| A couple of decent greenhouses | 25 |
| 40 acres of plants…some tall | 3 |
| 83,000 tonnes of manufactured soil to grow them in | 2 |
| A nursery to practise in and grow some unusual plants | 1 |
| Buildings for you and our team – fully equipped | 22 |
| Services to keep it all running | 7 |
| Paying the team up to opening | 3 |
| Exhibits to entertain you, walkways to keep you dry, a lift, a bridge | 12 |
| Advice on the things we couldn’t do ourselves | 12 |
| Investments in our future like the Foundation building, HQ of our charitable projects | 9 |
| A spectacular home for education – The Core | 16 |
| Warehouse, gatehouse, waste compound, Arena | 4 |
| Dreams cost money | Total: 140 |
Who supports us today?
We're grateful to the following organisations and companies that have given us support during the financial year 2010–2011:
Accenture / Big Green Bus / Big Lottery / BP / Carnegie Trust / City and Guilds / Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust / Cornwall Council / Department for Communities and Local Government / Department of Education / EDF Energy / Ernest Cook Trust / European Agricultural Fund for European Development 2007-2013 via Local Action for Rural Communities Programme / European Social Fund / GUS Trust / Homes and Communities Agency / Johnson Ohana / Kevin Morgan / Lankelly Chase / London Employer Accord / MasterCard / NESTA / Rio Tinto / Rise / RPA / Russell Commission (V) / South West Regional Development Agency / The Arts Council / The Ashden Trust / The Bromley Trust / Trusthouse Charitable Foundation / Tudor Trust / University College Falmouth / Vandervell Trust / Wellcome Trust.
Key milestones
From clay pit to world-famous visitor attraction and charity, see how our story unfolds.
Browse our timelineOur charitable work
Find out how we work to empower people, regenerate places and look after the environment
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