The grant-giving charity that was launched in 2020 by Ben Goldsmith, Simon Nicholls and Mitch Tonks has a vision: at least 30% of Devon ‘for nature’ by 2030.
In 4.5 years DEF has channelled more than £1 million to a diverse range of projects that protect and restore nature in Devon.
DEF’s Chair, Simon Nicholls said, “The sheer scale of the work that grantees have achieved is astonishing. Our model of giving seed funding to kickstart impactful local projects brings massive rewards for nature. We have seen hundreds of trainees learning regenerative agriculture practices; first of its kind trials using mycelium to clean-up river pollution; several tonnes of plastic cleared from large stretches of inaccessible coastline; and communities creating and connecting more spaces for wildlife – to name but a few. There are some incredible projects going on in Devon, and it’s an honour to enable them to do their vital work.”
DEF identifies the most effective local projects working to protect and restore nature and provides them with the financial boost they need to replicate and scale.
Focussing on protecting and restoring Devon’s natural beauty is a cost-effective way to address biodiversity loss and climate change. Nature-based solutions sequester carbon; increase biodiversity; reduce flooding, droughts, and soil erosion; and clean up pollution.
Amanda Keetley, Executive Director said “Nature-based solutions are the biggest sources of hope in this era of climate and nature emergencies. If we learn to share space better with nature, and recognise its true value, we will be rewarded by seeing it recover and thrive.”
EXAMPLES OF LOCAL IMPACT
In Torbay, DEF has funded a pesticide awareness campaign, a new environmentally friendly way to catch scallops, a project connecting local schools with wild spaces, and the protection of seagrass through ecological monitoring, physical protection, and community engagement.
While in East Devon, DEF has enabled a new nature friendly farm cluster and enhancing conditions for Salmon passage on the Exe.
On Dartmoor, DEF has funded a peatland restoration scheme, a group inspiring more people to grow meadows, a new nature alliance, and a native tree nursery. And DEF’s South Devon grants include a community harvest mouse survey project, a trial using mycelium and biochar to clean up river pollution, and a project supporting landowners to adapt to beavers on the Tamar.
LOCAL BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT
The foundation is supported by a wide range of local businesses who donate funds to protect the local environment. Some choose to sponsor projects, while others prefer to share in the impact of all DEF’s work.
Business donations of all sizes are crucial to enable DEF to support more projects. If you or your business would like to get involved, DEF is currently running a Crowdfunder.
Mitch Tonks, DEF Co-Founder and Founder and CEO of Rockfish Sustainable Seafood Restaurants said,
“Rockfish donates to DEF to pool funds with other donors that care about our local environment which levers our impact so we can support even more local projects.”
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