But Sir Tim Smit’s attempt to create a third landmark project in the far south west of England – a training center for gardening, agriculture and cooking on a Cornwall slope – has backfired as Lostwithiel residents protested en masse. and, for the time being at least, managed to stop the plan in its tracks. Smit, who caused a stir earlier this year by arguing that Cornwallians are not discernible and that he likes to look back on imaginary “good old days”, argued that the Gillyflower Farm project would be a major research center for crops of the future and would boost the economy of Lostwithiel, a medieval capital of Cornwall. Hundreds of residents, however, objected, arguing that its prominent location would ruin the precious view of the city and the ramparts of the spectacular Restormel Castle, and they were not at all impressed that – in their minds – Smit had not consulted with them properly before proceeding. At a heated meeting of the Cornwall Council Strategic Planning Committee in Truro on Thursday, members voted seven to four to reject their own officers’ recommendation that the plan be approved, with many saying they were disappointed with the consultation process. of the Smit team. Sarah Chudleigh, one of the residents who spoke at the meeting, later said she was “devastated” by the councilors’ decision. “I think it’s great for the city,” he said. Chudleigh said she feared that if allowed, growth would suck businesses out of the city center and the jobs it would create for locals would tend to be less skilled and underpaid. “So much of Cornwall is growing, but it is not for the good of the people, it is for the economic benefit of the rich and powerful,” he said. On the project website, Gillyflower is billed as “a third chapter by one of the team brought to you by the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.” Smit and his family, who live in the area, have already restored a “sustainable” golf course there and planted orchards and gardens filled with rare, historic fruit trees. In addition to the training center, they hoped to set up 19 holiday homes, a café, a shop selling locally produced produce, a distillery and a microbrewery. But the contrast was clear before Truro’s meeting with a song written about the occasion he performed as councilors arrived: “Stand up, Cornwall, stand up! / Every day they take your land / And greed destroys your traditions / Oh stop, stop Cornwall! ” The placards read slogans such as “Community not greed” and, even more crudely, “My orchard is my masculinity”. During the meeting, Smit said the climate emergency meant projects like Gillyflower, named after a traditional Cornwall apple, were needed. “The demand for gardening will go beyond the ceiling,” he said. “What most people do not seem to understand yet is that in trying to break away from current agricultural models we have to find a whole range of crops that are not entirely dependent on fossil fuels. “The whole issue behind Gillyflower is an educational facility for growing fruit and vegetable heritage. We create wealth, we create partnerships and we make Lostwithiel resilient for a future that remains ours to build “. Smit’s team said at the meeting that its own poll had shown that 70% of local businesses supported the project, although it acknowledged that the project could have had a “less bumpy journey” if more consultations had been held earlier. Colin Martin, Lostwithiel’s city councilor, insisted the project would damage a site designated as a high-value landscape. He said that if the city became more of a tie, more people would buy second homes, as they did in Padstow, Cornwall, with the arrival of Smit’s friend, the famous chef Rick Stein, making it difficult for local youth to find a place to live. . Outside the meeting, Martin said that Smith’s criticism of the Cornwall did not help his purpose. “He has spoken a few times about the people of Cornwall, giving the impression that he is better than all of us and we should be grateful for the good things he has given us.” He expected Smith to appeal, but in the meantime he hoped bridges could be built. “It’s a very close-knit community,” he said. “I’m shocked and saddened by how this app has wedged the community. The people moved away. I hope we can leave it behind and rebuild the community spirit. “