Awaken Your Purpose - With Nature As Your Teacher

Have you ever wondered what you are here for? How can you bring your uniqueness into play to make a difference? How can you navigate the potential overwhelm, helplessness, and hopelessness that can set in, in the face of the challenges of our times? Every species in the natural world plays their part in creating the conditions conducive to life and the health of the wider biosphere that they call home. We can all do that too. This course integrates the patterns, principles and design from the work of Think Like a Tree and integrates Biomimicry, Systems Thinking and Permaculture Design to help you find your purpose and define how you can make your effective contribution to a more liveable planet.

The course will be held at the beautiful Willows Lakeside Retreat in Pulborough, West Sussex on the border of the South Downs National Park. This eco glamping site is situated around a lake, there are islands and bridges, firepits and hammocks. Alive with kingfishers and owls, dragonfly's and glow worms, the Willows is a true nature reserve.

This is a two day programme with an option for a third day visit to the Knepp Rewilding Project..

Numbers are limited to 12 participants for a relaxed and personal experience.

Overview:

We can see in forests, and other natural ecosystems, ample evidence of resilience, longevity, harmony and everything having a purpose, but may struggle to experience these same qualities in our own lives.

By exploring patterns and principles derived from deep observation of the living world, this programme will introduce and get you started with a design cycle that can be used for a wide range of personal circumstances – relationships, health, wellbeing, leisure and work.

You may want to make a significant change, some small improvements, or just want to be more content or effective in your everyday life. Or you may be wanting to really find your purpose for being here. Whatever your circumstances this course has something to offer.

This programme comprises two full day sessions with optional activities to do in the evening between the course days and to continue at home after the course. During the programme you will be given tools and resources to be able to confidently make a start on a design that is personal to you. All course materials are provided and you will go away with a toolkit that can be used again and again.

We do recommend arriving Friday night so you are ready for the 10 am start on Saturday.

Optional Third Day

The Willows is close to the Knepp Rewilding Project. The optional third day includes a morning visit to Knepp to discuss rewilding and an afternoon to go deeper into your own design with more individual mentoring from Nicola and Milly.

This programme is ideal for anyone wishing to make changes for their own personal development, or as an introduction to a longer Think Like a Tree course and facilitator training. See https://thinklikeatree.co.uk/for-you/

· Facilitators: Nicola Peel and Milly Carmichael (bios below) 

More about the course

Price includes refreshments and organic soup and salad each day. You are welcome/encouraged to bring additional food/cake to share with the group. Saturday evening we ask everyone to bring a plate to share for a feast in the evening. Breakfast and Friday or Sunday night dinner is self catering.

Evenings will be spent around the giant fire pit so bring poems, stories and instruments if you wish.

Cost: £245 or £345 payable in advance. Please pay what you fairly can.

Low income: Please choose the ticket that best matches your ability to pay.

1 Bursary (pay what you can) price is available. Please email contactnicola@pm.me. This does not include camping.

We do not offer refunds but will attempt to accommodate you on another course if you are unable to attend for reason of illness or other unforeseen circumstance, subject to an admin fee of £65. 

Accommodation options:

Camping is available on site for £15 per person per night.

On a first come first serve basis, there are 5 available glamping sites. 

The Shepherds Hut (double) £150 for 2 nights or £200 for 3 nights, 

The Lodge (double) £150 for 2 nights or £200 for 3 nights, 

The Kingfisher Cabin (single) £130 for 2 nights £160 for 3 nights and 

2 simple single canvas Luna tents £90 for 2 nights or £120 for 3 nights. 

Bedding is only included to those coming by public transport. 

Contact nicola@nicolapeel.com to book

The site is off grid with compost toilets and solar showers. There is an inside kitchen and the course will be held in a beautiful large gazebo. For more information see www.thewillowslakesideretreat.com

There are numerous local AirBnBs to choose from

The nearest local hotels are the Chequers and the Roundabout Hotel

There is a farm shop on-site and convenience and supermarket stores in nearby Pulborough.

Travel to the site

As this is an eco retreat site we ask you if possible to come by public transport. Set out on a pilgrimage and the course starts the moment you leave your home

Train Pulborough Station is 2 miles away (Taxis do need to be pre ordered) Direct to London Victoria in 1 hour 15 minutes and there is a bus

Bus No1 runs from Worthing to Midhurst (good for connection to Brighton) passing Pulborough station and stops right outside The Willows

Bus 100 also runs from Burgess Hill and the stop is at the end of the road

By Car The Willows Lakeside Retreat, Dyke Farm, West Chiltington Rd, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 2EE

We would like for drivers to please contribute a carbon tax to https://rainforestsaver.org/

Whilst this course is ideal from people attending from around the UK and northern Europe, we ask that you do not fly to come to us, due to the high carbon cost of doing so. Online courses and other dates in other venues are available with details on the Think Like a Tree website.

Bios

Nicola Peel is an environmentalist, solutionist and public speaker. She has been working in the Ecuadorean Amazon for over 20 years initiating a number of social and environmental projects. Since 2016 she has been teaching agroforestry to prevent tropical deforestation for Rainforest Saver. Nicola is an expert for the Design Council teaching what Design for Planet really looks like.

At the Willows Lakeside Retreat Nicola has been leading the conservation and Rewilding and as a true biophilic she loves to help others connect to the awe and wonder of the natural world. She lectures on Biomimicry, Nature Based Solutions and all things Environmental www.nicolapeel.com

Milly Carmichael

Since discovering permaculture over 15 years ago, Milly has been introducing and enthusing people to its many wonders. This was after completion of a PDC (Permaculture Design Certificate) and People and Permaculture intensive facilitator training with Looby MacNamara. Over the last seven years Milly has been regularly co-facilitating Think Like a Tree courses with author Sarah Spencer in Derbyshire, and met Nicola through the facilitators training course. With a professional background in nursing and most recently working in Public Health, with a focus on food and financial insecurity, Milly is a passionate advocate for the healing powers of nature connectedness and focused on this subject for her MSc dissertation. She has many years of training facilitation experience including Solution Focus and Compassionate Communication, elements of which are woven into the Think Like a Tree content. Milly has been involved in her local Transition Town initiative in Wiltshire for over ten years, with projects including pollinator corridors, a community fridge and garden, film screenings, local environmental campaigning and managing the community orchard.