Simon Smith, known more widely as ‘Simon DK’ as a result of his legendary status as a DJ and founding member of Nottingham’s DIY sound system in the late 80s was a stand-out character in many people’s lives, a unique man who progressed to become probably the best known free party DJ in the country, inspiring a whole generation to take to the decks.
Searching for a period of respite from his chaotic lifestyle, Simon returned to north Wales, to his family home in Llanychan, just outside Ruthin in the Vale of Clwyd. In 2012, he started volunteering with the Wildlife Trust…his first task to help build a new Wildlife Garden for the benefit of Barnardo’s children near a high school in Ruthin. His passion for helping others, both people and wildlife, was clear from that very first day.
Simon then got involved with the ‘Orchard Recovery Project’, and, bringing along his reacquainted old school friend Richard Kellett, he and other volunteers created new friendships, and spent many a long and happy winter’s day; pruning and restoring traditional orchards throughout north east Wales. Simon was directly involved in the restoration of dozens of traditional orchards as well as the creation of nearly all of the 50+ new school orchards and over 25 community orchards created in north east Wales between 2012 and 2019. Halting the huge decline in orchard habitat across the country.