Nature at Blue Earth Summit 2025
Author: Blue Earth Publish Date: August 20, 2025
Day 1: Wednesday 15 October | London
At Blue Earth Summit, nature isn’t a side track, it’s the foundation everything else stands on.
Day 1 is devoted to protection, restoration and regeneration: natural capital and biodiversity finance, rewilding at scale, AI-driven conservation, and Indigenous-led solutions. Across stages and fast-paced formats, we’ll bring together science, investment, culture and community, moving ideas into action.
We open by harking back to the Summit’s ocean roots: UN Environment Programme Patron of the Oceans & Swim Trek Ambassador, Lewis Pugh opens the main stage, followed by an interview with Colin Butfield, Co-Founder of Open Planet Studios and Executive Producer of David Attenborough’s prestigious film Ocean. Nature sessions continue with keynotes from Sir Tim Smit, Actress and filmstar Nathalie Kelley, Chair of Natural England Tony Juniper and TV Dragon and investor Deborah Meaden. Partners World Land Trust bring a punchy and timely session on the meaning of “impact” in a world saturated with sustainability pledges and climate commitments.
Our main stage kick-off is complemented by interviews and discussion in the Courtyard on our 1% for the Planet stage, with DJ (Groove Armada) turned regenerative agriculture expert and Founder of Wildfarmed Andy Cato in conversation with Helen Browning, CEO of the Soil Association, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Chef and Bees for Development Ambassador, and Founder of Wahaca Thomasina Miers, amongst others.
Further highlights planned for our Nature day on 15 October include epic footage and electronic music from BICEP x TAKKUUK, the latest release from the most famous duo in UK dance whose journey to Greenland resulted in a film & new dance soundtrack, to be shown at full volume on the Blue Earth main stage with follow-up discussion with artists involved.
For a sector deep dive, head to the Future Landscapes Forum for interviews and panel discussions on investing in nature, land-use stakeholder management, conservation and access, with contributions from Executive Directors of the National Trust, Restore Nature, Howden Insurance, Triodos Bank, National Landscapes Association, RSPB and The Crown Estate.
Day 1 builds with a much anticipated industry roundtable discussion hosted by partners at Rewilding Britain which looks at how we co-design the future of rewilding investment. This fast-paced, interactive workshop will help generate breakthrough ideas and cross-sector collaboration to co-design the investment models, pathways and partnerships needed to unlock large-scale rewilding in Britain.
Nature needs investment. Meet the solutions at Blue Earth Summit.
Session Highlights
The following is a preview, not the full programme. A short snapshot of what to expect from the Nature Track at Blue Earth Summit 2025.
Lewis Pugh: A Swimmer’s Journey in Ocean Protection
In conversation with Reggie Lang, Swim Trek
In this interview, endurance swimmer and UN Environment Programme Patron of the Oceans Lewis Pugh discusses his latest record-breaking swim and how extreme adventure can be a powerful catalyst for change. Pugh reflects on the physical and emotional challenges of his expeditions, which are designed not just to test limits but to spotlight the urgent need for ocean conservation and climate action. He explains how pushing boundaries in the world’s most fragile environments can capture public attention, inspire hope, and drive meaningful global impact.
Swim Trek • Lewis Pugh Foundation • UN Oceans
“Once Upon a Time” with Sir Tim Smit: Reclaiming the Future Through the Stories We Tell
This is not a conventional speech, but an invitation into a shared moment of reflection, a carefully curated exploration of myth, memory, and meaning.
In “Once Upon a Time,” Sir Tim Smit dismantles inherited narratives and challenges the comfortable myths that shape our modern world. With curiosity and candour, he unearths threads from our collective past, from forgotten wisdom to lost kinship with nature, and weaves them into a provocation for the future.
Through ambiguity, inquiry, and the willingness to confront uncomfortable truths, this talk seeks not to provide answers, but to ask the right questions, ones that awaken imagination, stir conscience, and reframe what might still be possible.
Actress Nathalie Kelley: The Tao of Localization: Our Last Hope in a Collapsing World
In this deeply personal and provocative talk, actress and activist Nathalie Kelley shares her journey from the heart of consumer culture to the frontlines of ecological awakening. Once the face of campaigns promoting consumption and consumerism, Nat now uses her voice to expose the root causes of environmental destruction, and to uplift the regenerative solutions already within reach.
With honesty and fire, she explores the growing movement to revive small-scale, locally rooted economies, from growing food in urban backyards to reweaving communities through shared resources and wisdom. Her story is both a confession and a call to action: a powerful reminder that healing begins when we turn back to the soil beneath our feet, and the communities around us.
Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England & Cool Earth in conversation with Jarvis Smith, Co-Founder, My Green Pod
What’s the value of Nature?
Is natural capital a thing, and if so what is the true value? Tony and Jarvis will explore Mother Nature and how it fits into a thriving and regenerative economy.
My Green Pod • Natural England • Cool Earth
Deborah Meaden: Is Backing Business the Smartest Investment for Nature?
More details to follow, this is one not to miss.
BICEP x TAKKUUK: How the biggest DJ duo in UK dance collaborated with Indigenous Arctic artists
This immersive session blends powerful discussion with stunning visuals and music from BICEP’s TAKKUUK project, an audio-visual installation and soundtrack combining electronic music, environmental documentation, and Indigenous Arctic artistry.
The session interlaces film, sound, and conversation to explore how music, especially electronic music, can open up new ways of telling stories and engaging audiences who might not typically connect with environmental or cultural narratives.
Joined by the Indigenous Arctic artists themselves, the panel will ask: What is the real impact of collaborations like this? Can music shift perspectives and drive action? How do we measure cultural impact? And most importantly, what comes next?
Expect a rich, sensory experience that challenges the boundaries between art, activism, and audience.
Earthsonic • BICEP • TAKKUUK • Ruth Daniels • In Place of War • Greg Cochrane • Peder Niilas • Katarina Barruk
Rewilding Britain Roundtable, Wilder Returns: Co-Designing the Future of Rewilding Investment
Invitation-only roundtable at Blue Earth Summit.
Rewilding is no longer a fringe idea, it’s a frontier investment opportunity that could help solve some of our biggest national challenges.
Join a closed-door session bringing together investors, business leaders, policymakers, and rewilding innovators to explore how rewilding can be positioned as vital national infrastructure and a bold new frontier for equitably shared private and blended finance.
This fast-paced, interactive workshop will help generate breakthrough ideas and cross-sector collaboration to co-design the investment models, pathways and partnerships needed to unlock large-scale rewilding in Britain.
Nature needs investment. The future needs rewilding. Be part of designing both.
Future Landscapes Forum
The Future Landscapes Forum offers a space for deep, thoughtful dialogue about how we shape and steward the landscapes of tomorrow, recognising both the urgency of restoring the natural world and the complex web of human needs that intersect with it.
With senior decision-makers from across sectors (investment, ecology, business, civil society and planning) we’ll explore how we can invest in nature while also addressing the essential demands of communities. Join us as we hear from the National Trust, Crown Estate, National Landscapes Association, RSPB, Triodos, Restore Nature, Howdens Insurance and many more.
The Crown Estate • Triodos Bank • Restore Nature • National Landscapes Association • Howden Insurance
Sam Crosby — Sundowner Walk: Finding Clarity and Resilience in Ancient Myth
How can a 1000-year-old story know you better than you know yourself?
Meet at the river for an introduction to ancient stories as access points to peace, wisdom and courage. Sam Crosby, oral storyteller and founder of Recalling Fire, leads with his no-nonsense approach, daring you deeper into self-awareness and an exploration of your life and work from a “side on” perspective.
Andy Cato + Helen Browning OBE + Caroline Sherman: Is It Possible to Have Healthy Soil Within a Food System Driven by Low-Cost, Bulk Production?
This session brings together two distinct perspectives from major players in the food and land sector: Andy Cato of Wildfarmed, representing an emerging regenerative agriculture approach rooted in the UK, and Mars Europe, a leader with a broad reach across global food systems.
This session explores the partnerships and collaborations essential for driving meaningful change in farming and soil health. By bridging local regenerative practices with global scale and resources, the conversation highlights how diverse actors can align their efforts to restore soils, promote sustainability, and reshape the future of food production.
Both are united by a shared commitment to making a lasting difference, demonstrating that success depends not just on innovation, but on cooperation across sectors and scales.
Erica Neve’s Huddle: Who’s Really in Charge? Nature, Business and the Power to Decide
Exploring ownership, finance, and leadership through the lens of the living world.
Nature is the ultimate stakeholder but rarely has a seat at the table. This open huddle invites pioneers in regenerative business, finance, and governance to explore what changes when we design ownership, decision-making, and capital flows as if nature mattered most. Expect a lively, public deep dive where summit-goers and speakers collide, ideas cross-pollinate, and nature’s voice is brought into the boardroom.
This article is a summary rather than the complete programme. We’ll confirm additional sessions, timings and speakers in the coming weeks, and some details may evolve as we finalise the schedule.
Treat this as your early look at Day 1, the themes, voices and experiences shaping our Nature Track.
For the full line-up and latest updates, keep an eye on our channels, and mark Wednesday 15 October in the diary.