The Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, is set to get sister sites overseas.

In an interview with Attractions Management, Eden director, Tim Smit, revealed that talks are currently underway to open projects in other countries, reflecting the local culture.

"We feel like we need to do things which have big impact," said Smit. "What we are doing at present is talking to a number of countries about designing Eden Projects which are a reflection of their culture. It will have Eden philosophy and most of the training will be done by the Eden team So that¹s on the cards right now."

Details of the other parties involved are still under wraps, but work is expected to start within the next 18 months.

Smit is confident about the model working elsewhere, since the brand has grown very solid in the last 10 years. "We¹re considered to be quite funky," he says. "This year we were voted, by the marketing industry as the 50th most coherent brand in the country and we were above a hell of a lot of world famous brands."

Eden has also submitted a planning application to Restormel Borough Council to erect a 127m wind turbine, which would, apparently, create enough energy to power the whole attraction, and possibly create a surplus to sell back to the grid. The council has deferred a decision following vociferous local protest over concerns about the visibility, height, potential noise, strobing and ground vibration.