45 mile sponsored walk for Derby nature programs

What we're up to and why:

On the 15th of May, us at Down to Earth Derby, a community group aimed at increasing accessibility to nature, will be walking from the heart of the peak district, back to Derby city centre, ending at our soon to be public garden/ event space Electric Daisy!

The course is around 45 miles long and will take us somewhere in the range of 20 hours, we're fundraising in order to support our first major project in Derby, Electric Daisy.

The funds generated will help the programs, community offerings and curation of the space, to support in bringing a community led green space to the heart of Derby where it's most needed.

Though we already do a lot of free work with the community, getting some extra funds would allow us to expand our efforts to a much larger scale, running our programs based around connecting people with nature, more often and to more members of the community.

We see this site as the beginning of a possible regeneration for Derby, as an organisation we have our eyes set on rejuvenating the city through nature, and have worked closely with groups like the Eden Project and the city council as well as many others, to make it happen.

In other words, if you want Derby to gain a breath of life, born from this site, then throwing some funding our way would make all the difference in making it happen, as well as proving that this model is something people want to see!

Don't just listen to us:

Electric Daisy Announcement

On Site Work Starts!

Piece on our Founder

The Story:

Down To Earth Derby CIC was born out of a realisation that the negative impact of modern living on our planet cannot be ignored. Our mission is to make living with nature an everyday part of life for everyone through a nature-based movement.

As a community interest company, we partner with and empower local people, organisations, and businesses in Derby to create a world-leading model for nature-based regeneration. We work with city stakeholders to bring radical ideas and reimagine cities with our communities. Our goal is to breathe new life into broken spaces, design fantastic educational programs, and host magical events to help everyone experience the benefits of living closer to nature in urban areas.

Founded by Jamie Quince Starkey in 2018, our team of over 10 committed individuals has been working hard for the past two years to build a network of stakeholders, organisations, academics, and community members across Derby. Our partners at the Eden Project describe us as "urban transformers, change agents, guerrilla gardeners, and architects of the kind of world we want to live in."

We've already made significant progress toward our goals by implementing various nature-based projects, including transforming derelict spaces into community gardens, planting trees and wildflowers, and creating habitats for local wildlife. Additionally, we've developed educational programs for schools and the wider community, teaching people about the importance of biodiversity and how they can take action to protect the environment.

At DTE, our ultimate objective is to work with local businesses and organisations to develop nature-based solutions for urban regeneration and create a sustainable future for Derby and beyond. We believe that everyone has a role to play in this effort and are committed to empowering individuals and communities to take action toward a better future.

DTE is more than just a community, it's a collective purpose, that is taking 'the norms' of life and putting it into a do approach.

Our mission is to reconnect people with nature, themselves and their communities. Making living with nature a part of everyday life.
DTEs overall mission is to create a sustainable city which re-energises the city centre economy (and beyond), forge powerful nature-based commercial partnerships between like-minded stakeholders and gives significant support to the delivery of the Ambition Plan for Derby.

Our work so far has reached over 10,000 people, supporting their connection with nature, increasing social cohesion and contributing to their life skills.

We have received numerous testimonials from city stakeholders backing our cause.
Tim Smit, from Eden Project says
'Down to Earth Derby is my favourite project in the whole wide world. The team that lead it are from Derby, connected to Derby and believe that there is a future that remains theirs to make in Derby. They have in a splendid mix of cheeky ambition, friendliness and sheer hard work convinced a large number of people and organisations that Derby can become an outstanding symbol of regeneration famous across Europe'.

Our future city centre garden:

Electric Daisy is a garden and event space that embodies circular economy principles, viewing waste as a resource and growing high value vegetables for the catering and public sectors.

The garden serves as an inner city orchard that runs community events and community resilience programs working with disadvantaged parts of the community.

We will be open for sustainable lead events, mixing the best in music and visual arts with sustainability and regenerative lifestyles.

By doing so, we will be introducing people to sustainable living practices and inspire them to make better choices for the environment and for Derby city.

As a circular economy model, Electric Daisy will prioritize waste reduction by composting and recycling all waste generated within the garden and event space. Our goal is to create as closed loop a system as possible where waste is minimized, and resources are reused to the fullest extent possible. We will also always work with other companies that inhabit the local economy as we do.

As a part of our focus on sustainability, we will also grow high value vegetables for the catering and public sectors to demonstrate and foster enterprise. These vegetables will be grown using beyond organic methods, without the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides. By providing high quality, locally grown produce, we can support the local economy and promote healthy eating choices as well as cut the need for nationally grown unsustainable options that need to be shipped into the area.

Electric Daisy will also run community resilience programs, working with disadvantaged parts of the community to promote social and environmental justice. By providing a space for community events and programs, we will foster a sense of belonging and empowerment within the community.

With our extensive contacts and partners / affiliations we intend to also change the overall footfall and attractiveness of the area by promoting and facilitating murals, street art and other art/performance events.

In conclusion, Electric Daisy is more than just a garden and event space. It is a model for sustainable living and a hub for community resilience. We believe that by prioritising waste reduction, growing high value vegetables, and running community programs, as well as promoting enterprise and conducting good business we can create a more just and sustainable future for all.