The Eden Project is inviting some of the top building companies in Britain to compete in the first-ever den-making competition.
This follows last summer’s family den-building activities which saw thousands of visitors creating makeshift shelters at Eden from recycled and natural materials.
Participants in den building for companies will be in for a challenging day, working together as a team as well as being part of the 2008 launch of Eden's Mud Between Your Toes project and the return of family den building.
On the big day, Thursday July 10, each company can enter a team of six to eight people to design and build their dens. The dens will remain at Eden for ten weeks and a trail will be established so visitors can view each company’s creation and read about the thinking behind the design.
Visitors will also be able to vote for the best ones with an awards ceremony taking place at the end of the summer.
A photographic and film record will be kept of the dens and will be available for public viewing both on site and on the Eden website. Each company will be offered tickets to bring their families back during the summer to take part in the den trail.
Philippa Thompson, Eden’s Fundraising Manager, said: “We're really excited to be giving this unique opportunity to the cream of the British construction industry.
“Not only is den building great fun and a great team-building activity, the funds raised will go to support Mud Between Your Toes, a really important project that helps children to reconnect with their environment.
“It will be great to see how construction professionals transfer their skills to the smaller scale and hopefully provide a load of great ideas for those who come to Eden for the return of family den building this summer.”
Mud Between Your Toes aims to create opportunities for children and young people to go outdoors and play together. It enables them to experience, understand and celebrate their sense of place in the natural world.
Any companies wishing to participate in the den-building challenge should call 01726 811969.
Photo caption: Eden team members relax in front of their creation during last summer's family den-building activities.
Notes to editors:
* Eden Project Limited is owned by the Eden Trust, which is a fully registered UK Charity (No. 1093070).
* Eden is home to the two biggest greenhouses in the world – the Rainforest Biome and Mediterranean Biome.
* Around 1.2 million visitors come to Eden per year and it has generated £800 million for the local economy.
* So far capital funding of £135 million to develop Eden has been raised from a combination of £58 million from the Millennium Commission Lottery Fund, £50 million in regional grants from the South West Regional Development Agency and Objective One European Regional Development Fund, and £27 million in the form of loans, lease finance and Eden's own revenue generation.
* Immediate information may be obtained from our website: www.edenproject.com.
For more information, please contact:
Ben Foster
Communications Assistant
bfoster@edenproject.com
01726 818766
07813 950368
David Rowe
Head of Press and PR
drowe@edenproject.com
01726 811901
07813 041923
