Hosted at the incredible EartH Hackney in London, Earthed Summit brought together a mix of ecologists, Indigenous leaders, regenerative farmers, grassroots activists, founders, musicians and artists. We all gathered with the ambition to join together for “generation restoration.”
As communicators at Enviral, we were there not just to be inspired, but to learn how stories and campaigns can move people from awareness to action.
Guided by Christabel Reed, CEO and Co-Founder of Earthed, the stage moved from science to ancestral knowledge and ancient wisdom, through to citizen power and urban imagination. We heard from a line-up of speakers from leading brands like Vivobarefoot and Neal’s Yard Remedies, to Merlin Sheldrake, the fungal biologist, to the powerhouse and movement builder Pam Warhurst of Incredible Edible, as well as Indigenous scientist Dr Lyla June Johnston and the ancestral wisdom of the Huni Kuin People of the Amazon Rainforest. Here are some reflections from this groundbreaking day.
Science & Evidence: Angus Garbutt on Why Salt Marshes Are the Unsung Climate Superpower
Angus Garbutt, Principal Scientist in Coastal Ecology, reminded us that salt marshes are more than “muddy, inaccessible places”. Salt marshes are carbon-storing, wave-dissipating, biodiversity-rich powerhouses. Many people have heard of them but might not be aware of ever visiting one. They sit in our cultural imagination as dark, dramatic landscapes, thanks to entries in art and literature such as Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. In the 1800s the marshes symbolised danger and uncertainty, yet their ecological value then and now is enormous.
Restoration projects across the UK and globally are unlocking these benefits, from flood mitigation to carbon sequestration.
“Unit for unit, there’s more carbon in a salt marsh than in a tropical rainforest. They’re quiet, temperate heroes of climate mitigation.” – Angus Garbutt
Salt marsh restoration is measurable, high-impact ecosystem repair. At Enviral, ee’re proud to have worked on a campaign for WWT that helped amplify these “superpowers”. You can check out the WWT case study here.
Indigenous & Ancestral Practice with Dr Lyla June
Dr Lyla June Johnston is an Indigenous environmental scientist, scholar, and community organiser of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) and European lineages. She works across cultures for unity and compassion for future generations.
Lyla challenged the myth that humans are inherently destructive. Drawing on examples from Turtle Island (North America) to pre-colonisation Hawai’i, she showed how Indigenous nations have acted as “keystone species”, cultivating chestnut groves, clam gardens and watershed-based food systems that fed millions while enriching biodiversity.
Lyla left us with the powerful reminder: “Humans were not designed to be pests. We were designed to be a gift, to catalyse health and healing for the Earth.”
You can learn more about Lyla’s work and listen to her music here.
Citizens, Not Consumers with Jon Alexander
On our Enviral studio bookshelf sits Jon Alexander’s Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything Is All of Us – a team favourite. His book is a manifesto for moving beyond the consumer story toward collective agency.
In his talk, Jon reframed the narrative of societal change: the consumer story is failing, and the citizen story, one grounded in interdependence, participation, and collective collaboration, is emerging. He left us with a three-step guide:
– Choose a community,
– Find others who care,
– Act together.
“Choose the domain that you want to contribute to. That might be your street, your neighbourhood, an issue, or your workplace… Choose a community that you want to commit to and make the locus of your action in this time.”
Lessons from Fungi on Symbiotic Relationships with Merlin Sheldrake
Another book on our studio bookshelf is Merlin Sheldrake’s Entangled Life, which explores the hidden world of fungi and how their study has transformed how we see the interconnectedness of nature.
Alongside being an author, Merlin is a biologist with a background in plant sciences, microbiology, ecology, and the philosophy of science. In his talk, he explored the concept of symbiotic relationships, using fungal mycelium networks and insect collaboration as a metaphor. In times of crisis, he explained, survival depends on symbiosis, not isolation.
Merlin left the audience with a question: how do we come together and invent new ways of relating to each other and to the world?
Learn more about his work here.
Culture, Sound & Celebration
One of the reasons this summit stood out was that it wasn’t just about talks, networking and workshops, it was also a celebration of sound in other forms.
Attendees experienced an enchanting meditative sound immersion with Jon Hopkins and Eileen Hall, who guided us on an ambient electronic journey into the mystery of Ecuador’s Tayos Caves. Performers including Sam Lee, Cosmo Sheldrake, FACESOUL and Madame Gandhi wove music and storytelling that centred nature and human connection.
Charged up with active hope
Beyond the incredible line-up of speakers, artists, and musicians, what stood out most was the attendees. I met with people who are leading grassroots movements in the Azores and Wales to initiatives in Sweden and beyond, I left London feeling charged up with active hope – energised by people sparking a collective movement of generation restoration.
Why This Matters to Enviral
At Enviral, we’re helping brands with heart tell these stories meaningfully, connecting inspiration with impact. We believe restoration is possible, but only when we combine hearts, hands, and heads.
Learn more about how we help brands with hearts tell their stories here.