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.

Seeing how important connection to nature was to people and understanding the plight of so many species loosing suitable habitat in our countryside, Simon also gave his time to help promote conservation efforts in community green spaces, and was a key volunteer in many other projects, including the ‘Living Churchyards project’. Simon had a particular interest in wildflower meadows, and helped survey, create and restore numerous meadows in Flintshire and Denbighshire, and was amongst the first ‘converts’ to using the traditional ‘scythe’ to manage hay meadows. A member of the north Wales scything cooperative, he quickly came to be known as ‘Simon the Destroyer’ due to a unique scything style which closely resembled his golf swing. He would toil and toil, sweating and swearing under his breath, but would never give up.      

Birds were his ‘thing’ and he was often heard remarking on bird calls nearby. His morning ritual included filling no less than 13 bird feeders at his home, he never wanted to see any living creature suffer, or go hungry, and would go to great lengths to ensure his actions never impacted negatively on anything. He would re-home beetles, spiders and even worms, and lament the loss of a single ant if we came across a nest as we dug the soil or cut the hay.    

During his time volunteering with the trust and later as a contractor for Enfys Ecology, Simon planted hundreds of fruit trees and probably thousands of native trees in north Wales, creating hedgerows and pockets of woodlands that today combine to create wildlife corridors and stepping stones for wildlife across the landscape. Another of the numerous legacies he leaves behind.  

There goes a much loved and gentle man who not only contributed to… but also deeply understood the ‘rhythm of life’.  

Our thoughts and love go to his family, to Nikki and to all of those who knew him.

Cwsg mewn hedd Simon.

(14th May 1963 - 6th July 2023)