Tim Smit and the Groatie Buckie

"A garden is a symbol of man's arrogance, perverting nature to human ends and humans are part of nature . . . a perverse dilemma!"  Tim Smit

For those who haven't come across the name Tim Smit he is forever associated with the Lost Garden of Heligan ( Note the word "lost" was Tim's addition due he said to the garden's strong romantic appeal ) and The Eden Project  also in Cornwall.

I first came across Heligan glancing through an old Gardening magazine in the 1990's. Heligan had not been long opened and pulled back from the brink of decay. I did rather like it, in it's forlorn falling down state. There was a certain romance in neglect and decay.

Tim Smit and his friend John Nelson were responsible for the renovation project. Both of them were introduced to the place by a member of the family who owned Heligan gardens. Neither minded getting their hands dirty. Since these early days there has been the books, the TV series and then the amazing Eden Project.

Tim Smit is one of these people who you would like to have round to dinner, because he's interesting and imaginative. I'd have him sitting next to Sandi Toksvig.

I almost met Tim Smit. He came to Orkney as a keynote speaker for the first Annual Lecture of the University of the Highlands and Islands. In a sea of grey suits Tim Smit was the most wonderful contrast in his faded jeans sitting on the stage, jacket thrown to one side. I had the sneaking suspicion that it was a well rehearsed routine but enchanting none the less. I had wanted to meet him but didn't have the opportunity as star of the show was swept up the stairs with the grey suits. 

At the time our local gardening club was gearing up for BBC Gardeners Question Time Christmas Special and I was looking for raffle prizes. There's a tradition in Orkney that if it moves, raffle it. No raffle, no show....

I had this bright idea of getting Tim Smit to sign one of his books which I had already bought. One of the gardening committee actually did meet him but then her husband worked for Radio Orkney and got all the best jobs.

Not managing to meet him I sent the book to the Eden Project with a groatie buckie and a note. (groatie buckies are cowrie shells and are meant to be lucky or can be used as currency)

I got the book back (signed) and some kind words.The book remains on my book shelf to this day as a friend won it in the raffle (and having never heard of Tim Smit) gave it to me. I was cock a hoop...well almost...

Tim Smit may not be your standard gardener. In fact he trained in archeology and became a record producer, before moving to Cornwall. Whether he knew his gloxinias from his geraniums  pre Heligan remains to be seen but he is unconventional, passionate and charismatic. He is also I suspect a bit of a visionary...

Tim Smit has another famous quote about gardens which he uses often and it's on the tip of my tongue... something about the uses of a garden. Typically I can only remember the last phrase "to make love in"

P and I  have visited both Heligan and the Eden Project (in the very early days) and as I am digitalising all our old photos and slides it seems like a good time for a reminisce with a post or two. It's also Heligan's 21st Birthday and Edens' 10th Birthday.

They are magical places. Happy Birthday Heligan and the Eden project!