I’ve now completed my first year as a member of 1% for the Planet, and it has been wonderful to connect more closely with the organisations I’m supporting and start exploring ways I can get more involved.
The first two charities I chose - Project Seagrass and Creekside Educational Trust - are very close to my heart for different reasons. One connects with my long-standing fascination with the sea and marine life; the other protects a rare natural stretch of tidal Thames - a rich source of wildlife, right on my doorstep near the studio.
Project Seagrass
Seascapes and marine life have always been a huge source of inspiration for my jewellery, so choosing Project Seagrass felt like a natural place to start.
Their work focuses on restoring seagrass ecosystems - precious underwater habitats that provide shelter and food for marine life, while also playing an important role in storing carbon. Supporting the restoration of these habitats is an investment in healthier seas and coastlines for the future.
We’ve already started corresponding about some exciting ideas for how we might work together more closely, which feels like a wonderful opportunity to bring my jewellery and the conservation work I care about even closer together. Watch this space!
“A huge and heartfelt thank you for your wonderful donation. Your jewellery is so strongly influenced by nature and the sea, and your commitment to responsible craftsmanship and giving back to environmental causes really resonates with what we are trying to achieve at Project Seagrass.”
Creekside Education Trust
Closer to home, I chose to support Creekside Education Trust, a pioneering urban wildlife charity in South-East London working to protect and enhance the river and wild habitats around Deptford Creek. They do much more than conservation. Through guided walks, outdoor learning and community activities, they give people the opportunity to discover the wildlife on their doorstep and develop a real connection with it.
When my girls were younger, we loved taking part in the river-dipping activities by Creekside Discovery Centre. More recently, we’ve joined their Low Tide Walks and a bird survey, and my eldest has volunteered at the Centre as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Having somewhere like this so close to my studio has been a wonderful resource for all of us. It has helped to keep that sense of curiosity and wonder about the natural world alive, and we’ve been blown away by the diversity of wildlife we’ve discovered in and around the creek.
Even on my cycle rides to the studio along the River Ravensbourne, I often see a thriving family of herons and, if I’m lucky, a kingfisher. Closer to the studio, peregrine falcons nest nearby and are a regular sight on my lunchtime dog walks. It’s easy to think of nature as something that exists somewhere else - in remote landscapes or far-off coastlines - but these everyday encounters are a beautiful reminder of how much wildlife is living alongside us, even in the city. Being able to contribute to the work that protects local habitats feels particularly meaningful.
I’m looking forward to getting more stuck in at Creekside Discovery Centre with my studio team. Myself, Judith and Lizzy will be getting our waders on and joining them for a Low Tide Walk soon. I’m sure there’ll be a story or two to share afterwards!
Photography Credits:
Seagrass: image courtesy of Project Seagrass
Deptford Creek: image by Hannah Smiles courtesy of Creekside Education Trust