Mark the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement with an eco-friendly contribution in Mayfair and Belgravia
Shop sustainably
As part of its mission to reverse the industrialisation of our food and the pollution of the land that nurtures it, Daylesford practises organic, sustainable farming at its market garden in Gloucestershire. Today, it’s one of the most sustainable farms in the UK, ensuring Daylesford’s farmshop-cum-café on Pimlico Road is permanently brimming with mouth-watering, organic, fresh produce.
This Earth Day, why not invite friends round for a meal made with delicious seasonal ‘green greens’? Daylesford’s website has plenty of recipe ideas, and you can stock up on all the ingredients at its Pimlico Road branch. Daylesford is also the proud partner of Grosvenor’s Pimlico Road parklet, a multi-level urban garden home to plantings made by green-fingered members of the local community. Once you’ve shopped, make sure you take a seat and enjoy this green patch in the metropolis.
Get planting
There’s plenty you can do to embrace sustainability beyond Earth Day, too. Over the next five years, as Earth Day moves closer to its 50th anniversary, the movement is calling on you to help plant 7.8 billion trees. While there may not be space for billions of trees in Mayfair and Belgravia, there’s certainly room for carbon-dioxide-consuming greenery on a smaller scale.
On 12 May, Daylesford is inviting members of the public to help replant the raised beds in its Pimlico Road parklet with wildflowers, vegetables and fruit. Helpers can look forward to goodie bags of plants and nibbles as thanks for their efforts, while hotdogs and fresh juice are on offer to keep the children happy.
Ditch the tube
Transportation is now the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas, accounting for 24% of global emissions. A great way to limit your personal contribution is to wave goodbye your usual car, train or bus journey to work, and don a pair of cycling shorts or running shoes instead.
Specialist running shop Run and Become, on Eccleston Street, has tonnes of running shoes to choose from, along with brightly coloured jackets and high visibility bibs to keep you safe on some of London’s busier routes. Experts in natural gait analysis, co-owners Dipika and Shankara Smith will be on hand to help you find the perfect gear for your commute – allowing you to glide into work feeling energised, with happy feet and full of earth-loving vibes.
Home improvement
If solar panels are beyond your means, there are plenty of affordable ways to limit energy use in the home. Aside from saving energy, daylight is known to have a great impact on health and wellbeing. Optimise the daylight levels in your home by painting windowsills white and by ensuring they’re free from clutter – you’ll be amazed by the difference a little more natural light can make.
You might also want to consider installing conservation-style roof lights to bring daylight into stairwells, and use light-reflecting paint on walls to reduce the need for electrical lighting. An even simpler way to save energy is to replace traditional household bulbs with high-performance, energy-efficient alternatives, or install an energy monitor to keep an eye on your usage.
