Tim Smit educate people about environmental matters and encourages a greater understanding and empathy with these matters. Smit raised the needed funds and was the driving force, pulling the team of people together to build what has been described as 'the eighth wonder of the world' ; the site design was by Nicholas Grimshaw. The Eden Project is said to have contributed over £1 billion into the Cornish economy. Smit's book about the creation of the Eden Project, 'Eden', was first published in 2001 and updated on the 10th anniversary of the opening in March 2011. It is the best-selling environment book
Tim Smit the award was made substantive when he became a British citizen, allowing Smit to use the title "Sir". In November 2016, Smit was awarded an honorary Doctor of Education degree by Bournemouth University. In August 2014, Smit was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to "The Guardian" opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue. Prior to the 2015 UK general election, he was one of several celebrities who endorsed the parliamentary candidacy of the Green Party's Caroline Lucas. The National Portrait Gallery collection has two photographs of Tim Smit from