Bringing the harvest home

A nature retreat for women

Mentored by

Sussex Mindful Walks

Nature connector and lover of all things wild

Organisation links
Location address: Horam, TN21 9HJ
Chosen age group:

For ages: 18+ years

Available tickets:
Standard £300Concession £200
Next date: None - message Mentor to express interest
What we'll do
Our lives have undergone major changes in the past couple of years. But how many of us have had time to reflect on what has happened to us? Without taking the time to stop, notice and look at the past, it can be hard to make sense of our lives and what is going on in the world around us. Giving ourselves time for reflection helps us to sift the wheat from the chaff, to mourn our losses and celebrate our gains, enabling us to move forward. This retreat will offer you time and space in nature, on Sacred Earth's beautiful 40-acre site. The natural world has the power to truly rest and revitalise us, but it also acts as a mirror for what is going on inside us. The more closely we connect with the natural world, the more clearly we understand ourselves. We will work with the power of nature and the wisdom of our ancient ancestors, the Celts, who understood how nature and its cycles can provide meaning in our lives. As we enter the Celtic festival of Lughnasadh at the time of the new moon, we will focus on the theme of 'first harvest', giving ourselves space to reflect on the 'seeds' we have planted and cultivated in our lives over the last year or so. We will celebrate what we have grown so far and take time to dream into what we want to nurture and grow for the future. We will see how our interior landscape responds to and is influenced by our exterior landscape, and how tuning into the rhythms of the natural world can support us to notice and honour our own internal rhythms. You'll experience guided meditations, movement and body practice, sensory activities and mindful walks. There will also be time for journaling and creative activities, including storytelling around the fire. Practical info: set up camp from 4pm on Friday the 29th of July, finish around 3pm on Sunday the 31st. We will send further info and directions on booking.
About your mentor
Sussex Mindful Walks
Nature connector and lover of all things wild
My love affair with nature started in childhood. I was lucky to grow up in the 1970s, when it was perfectly normal for parents to shove their children out of the door and not expect them back until teatime. I lived in the countryside so I spent my time walking, riding horses and observing animals and birds. The legacy of all this is that I've always felt a strong sense of belonging to this world and a deep connection to the land. About 20 years' ago I learned to surf and this connected me to nature in a different, but equally powerful way. No words can fully explain what it feels like to stand up on a surfboard and ride a wave. There’s excitement, fear and adrenaline, sure, but there’s also something else - something more primeval and powerful. The older I get, the more I grieve for what the human race is doing to this planet - our only home. I've always been an environmental activist but it came as a shock to realise that some people don't really care. Or they know something is wrong but they can't face the reality of what is happening, so they shut it out of their minds. I realised that my true calling in life was to help people build their connection with nature. I do this for two reasons: it will help their wellbeing AND the wellbeing of the earth. People won't protect what they don't care about. So I gave up my career in communications and started changing my life. The first step was to travel around the UK, working as a volunteer on organic farms and sustainable land projects. The second step was to retrain in ecotherapy and ecopsychology. The third was to start working as a facilitator, which I've now been doing for the past three years. I run my own projects, Wild Wellbeing and Sussex Mindful Walks, but I also work as a facilitator at Sacred Earth Community Benefit Society. I will be co-facilitating this weekend with Siân Jones from Wild Gathering CIC. Siân is an integrative arts psychotherapist and eco psychology practitioner. She has been working therapeutically with adults and young people for the last twenty years, also designing and facilitating training workshops and therapeutic groups both locally and internationally. She has just finished a two year contract with the South Downs National Park as their Families Outreach Officer. Siân has been fascinated with myth and story for as long as she can remember, and it was studying with mythologists Martin Shaw and Sharon Blackie that reawakened her connection with the natural world and deepened her exploration of the importance of relationship to place. It was that reawakening that led her to study with the Natural Academy in 2018. Siân currently offers therapy and supervision either outside in woodland, in a yurt or on zoom, as well as facilitating mindful walks and Nature Well courses. She is also a storyteller.
FAQs
1. Sacred Earth is an off grid site, so there is no electricity or running water. We will provide plenty of drinking water and there will be opportunities for wild swimming but please be aware that there are no showers. 2. We have a fully equipped kitchen (with gas burners but no fridge) and four compost toilets for our sole use. 3. We will use the entire site, which consists of 40 acres of woodland, rewilded farmland, meadows and lakes. 4. We will provide your main evening meal on the Saturday night, but ask that you bring your own food for your other meals (you might also want to bring a cool box!) 5. Please bring your own camping gear, torch, chair and clothing suitable for all weathers. 6. You might want to bring a journal, or something to use for writing and drawing. 7. Although meditation and mindfulness can be helpful in managing stress, depression and anxiety, this retreat might not be suitable if you are experiencing major depression or other clinically diagnosed psychiatric illnesses, such as psychosis or current self-harming. 8. This retreat is for all women (as self-identified) aged 18 and above.
Learning aims
Aim 1
Greater self awareness
Aim 3
Building a closer connection with nature
Aim 2
Tuning into inner rhythms
Aim 4
Learning some nature-based wellbeing tools
This retreat is for you if:
• If you need rest, relaxation and revitalisation • You are new to mindfulness or are looking to sustain and reconnect with your practice in a new way • You are feeling overwhelmed and stressed out by the demands and pace of modern life • You love camping and spending time outdoors • You would like to connect with nature in a deeper way • You are interested in Celtic culture, rituals and celebrations • You are looking for tools and resources to sustain you in your everyday life • You are looking to connect with your true and authentic self
Pricing information
Ticket nameStandard
Price£300
InformationWe're offering a concession price for those on low incomes and an early bird price (also £225) for tickets booked before May 31. Please contact us directly to discuss eligibility for concessions.
Ticket nameConcession
Price£200
PHOTO GALLERY
Where we'll be
Small private road opposite Cowden Hall Lane, Horebeech Lane, Horam, East Sussex, TN21 9HJ
WHAT’S PROVIDED
Drinks
Snacks
Safety
Enhanced DBS
Risk Assessment
Public Liability Insurance
Safeguarding Training
First Aid Training
First Aid Kit

Please note

Please note, it is the responsibility of the booker to satisfy themselves about the adequacy of the safety measures. This platform is merely an introducer and does not verify the items listed here.

Cancellation Policy
I am not able to offer refunds in general but may be able to if there is good notice.

My experience consists of a leisure activity, on a specific date(s), and therefore the 14-day ‘cooling off period’ under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 does not apply.