Famous British Environmental Activists

Dick Strawbridge is a British engineer, television personality, and former army officer. In 1993, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his service in Northern Ireland. After his military career, Strawbridge has established himself as a TV personality, appearing on several TV programs. He is popularly referred to as Colonel Dick in the media.

A global adventurer and environmentalist, David Mayer de Rothschild is a descendant of the Rothschild banking family. He once crossed the Pacific in a vessel made of plastic bottles, to raise awareness about ocean pollution. His Sculpt the Future Foundation supports environment-friendly innovations and sustainable initiatives.

George Monbiot is a British writer and activist best known for his political and environmental activism. He also contributes as a columnist for The Guardian and is credited with founding a land rights campaign called The Land is Ours. Monbiot is the recipient of the United Nations Global 500 Award, which was presented to him by Nelson Mandela in 1995.

Once regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on botany and the environment, David Bellamy was also a successful TV presenter and was a regular on BBC programs. However, he later claimed that he was shunned by the TV fraternity for his denial of the importance of climate change.

Renowned James Lovelock is best known for propagating the Gaia hypothesis, which states that every living being on planet Earth is part of a single self-regulating superorganism. He is also known for his long association with NIMR, London, and Harvard University and has over 50 patents under his name.

The son of British financier James Goldsmith and socialite Lady Annabel Goldsmith, Ben Goldsmith serves as the CEO of Menhaden Capital Management. An avid environmentalist and philanthropist, he co-founded the sustainability-oriented WHEB Asset Management and the JMG Foundation, which focus on environment-friendly business opportunities. He also co-established the UK Environmental Funders’ Network.

British environmentalist Daniel Hooper, also known as Swampy, is widely famous as an eco-warrior. He was quite a rage in the 1990s, when he would often occupy tunnels and trees, to protest against developmental projects that harmed nature. He lived with his girlfriend and children in a tent in Tipi Valley.

Sheherazade Goldsmith is known for her pioneering a venture of concept jewelry, Loquet London, which offers customized pendants. She has been a columnist for publications such as The Sunday Times and has also penned books. An environmental activist and philanthropist, too, she once owned an organic food business.

Environmental-conservationist Jecca Craig, presently completing a doctorate at University College London, helped in founding the largest wildcat-conservation-organization of the world called Panthera; and the independent NGO Stop Ivory that aims in protecting elephant and stopping ivory trade. Jecca’s father Ian Craig founded Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary on the Craigs’ family land, and later Lewa Wildlife Conservancy incorporating the original sanctuary.

Raised by coffee farmer parents in British East Africa, Elspeth Huxley grew up to be a prominent author, known for her lyrical books such as The Flame Trees of Thika, depicting her life in British Kenya. She was also a BBC broadcaster, a magistrate, and an environmental activist.

Environmentalist, ornithologist and internationalist Edward Max Nicholson is most noted as a founder of World Wildlife Fund (presently World Wide Fund for Nature Inc.), world’s largest conservation-organization. Nicholson was also a member of the British policy-think-tank Political and Economic Planning (PEP) that was formed in response to his article A National Plan for Britain published in The Week-End Review magazine.