ANDY JASPER

The new CEO of the Eden Project on his excitement about a new chapter, the legacy he's left at the National Trust and his joy at heading home to Cornwall

- TIM RICHARDSON

The day after I interview Andy Jasper – at Gertrude Jekyll’s former house and garden at Munstead Wood in Surrey – about his plans as director of gardens and parklands at the National Trust, I receive an email announcing his resignation. Was it something I said? 

A few hours later, Andy pings across an apologetic text, explaining that he had to stay silent until everything had been signed off with his new job. So we schedule another conversation, about the role which has tempted him away from the National Trust after just three years: CEO of the Eden Project, based in his native Cornwall.

In fact, Andy is not new to Eden, having already done a stint there from 2000 to 2012. But with his typical puppyish enthusiasm, he states: “This is a huge step up for me. When I left, I was a junior director, having been there since the beginning. My role had morphed from being in charge of research to the beginnings of the Eden International project.”

A lot has indeed changed since 2012. Eight schemes are currently listed as in development by Eden, in addition to the iconic original garden, consisting of giant biomes set in an abandoned tin mine in Cornwall. Some projects are as far afield as China, Dubai and Australia, while others, such as a rainforest restoration scheme in Costa Rica, appear to involve little more than a watching brief and loan of the brand name.