Daisy Lowe: 'I'm more of an outdoorsy type'
Model and wildlife campaigner Daisy Lowe tells us about bug-spotting, puddle-jumping – and a matchmaking dog called Monty...
"I am more of an earthy, outdoorsy type, which often surprises people because of my career in fashion or the glamorous costumes I wore on Strictly. But I love nothing more than to wake up early and get out into nature. It’s where I feel really alive and fulfilled.
"Monty, my Maltese Terrier, chose my future husband for me. I was walking him on Hampstead Heath and he ran over to where Jordan was walking with his dog.
"He wouldn’t come when I called, so I ended up having to join him and his new friends instead. Monty was my little sidekick and we still miss him. He used to stamp his feet at the bottom of the stairs when he decided it was time for us to go to bed.
"Jordan and I still love walking everywhere together. Our daughter Ivy was born 18 months ago, so of course she comes along, too. Even in deep winter, I figure the best way to pass on my deep respect for nature to her is by immersing her in it early.
"I don’t wear any special gear for my rambles. I’m always in combat boots, so I don’t. need wellies. It’s not very “fashion modelly” but I’ll just throw on leggings, a big jumper or hoodie and probably one of Jordan’s jackets.
"Ivy is at that lovely age where she loves splashing in puddles and looking at the way the light shines through the trees, whether we’re visiting my mum in Somerset or strolling on the Heath or in Highgate Wood.
"Whatever mood she’s in, after we’ve been in a green space for an hour, she’s a bright little bean again. That fresh air means everything to her little system – and mine.
"I was a teenager when I realised we had headed into a climate crisis. I went on my first march for the environment when I was 18 or 19 during the G8 Summit. Ever since, I’ve been on a personal mission to try to help leave the planet better than the way that we found it. But it’s quite a tall order.
"These days, we’re better at spotting a brand’s name than a type of tree, which is gut-wrenching. To see and smell everything, to really feel nature in your senses, gives you a better understanding of why we need to take care of these things.
"I’ve been working recently with The National Lottery Good Causes team, recognising Game Changers in wildlife conservation. One of the honourees who really stood out for me was Chantelle Lindsay, a CBeebies presenter and coordinator for the London Wildlife Trust. Her role is to engage young people and underrepresented communities in wildlife conservation. She gave me a tour of one of the Trust’s amazing community spaces, the Centre for Wildlife Gardening. I can’t wait to take Ivy there to show her the little greenhouse where they teach children how tomatoes and cucumbers grow.
"Over the years, I’ve spent lots of time in the Oxfordshire countryside. I got to know the area after my mum met my stepfather [musician Danny Goffey] when I was six. Danny’s parents took me on long rambles and bike rides, and I began to see more sky than I did in London. They had horses, too, and my favourite thing was to build forts and look for bugs in the woodlands. It really was idyllic.
"I also love the coastline in Norfolk: the first time I walked along Holkham beach, I was floored. I couldn’t believe how the landscape could change from an epic expanse of beach to a field of heather to a magical woodland and then marshland. It’s a very special place.
"We’re considering moving to Somerset, where my mum [designer Pearl Lowe] lives. She moved there when I was a teenager and the green rolling hills are gorgeous. Plus, the creative community is thriving. I love the way she has decorated her house, too. It manages to be so feminine, so maximalist and so irreverent all at once.
"My dream country home would be an old farmhouse, but I’m engaged to a property developer and he has other ideas involving open plans and light, airy spaces. We’d both like to build a fully sustainable eco-house.
"I used to love horse-riding but while I’m full-time mumming I don’t get to do that so much. However, when Ivy is older, I can’t wait for us to go together. Her dad, on the other hand, is planning for her to be his surfing buddy…
"I competed in Strictly Come Dancing eight years ago, and I still love to dance at home every day. Ivy starts bopping around whenever I put music on, and if she spots me, she wants me to waltz around with her in my arms. I make the most of those moments while I can."
Women's West Rim Sport GORE-TEX Mid Walking Shoes
Ladies Leather Hiking Boots
£280.00 at Country Living Marketplace
Pace 20L Backpack
£34.99 at mountainwarehouse.com
Herdwick Wool Insoles
£21.50 at Country Living Marketplace
Tritan Drinks Bottle
£6.50 at John Lewis & Partners
Men's Hiking & Trekking Boots
£275.00 at Country Living Marketplace
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