Mindfulness in Nature Retreat

When was the last time you sat without holding space for anyone else?

This retreat is for experienced practitioners and teachers who feel the quiet drift away from their own practice.

Take some time for yourself, immerse yourself in nature and reconnect with your personal mindfulness practice in a private ancient woodland near Salisbury. This is an opportunity for you to take care of yourself, rejuvenate your energy and resilience levels, and receive rather than give.

During this nourishing midweek retreat, we'll combine guided mindfulness practices with periods of silence in nature to deepen your awareness of yourself and your environment.  This retreat features a balance of indoor and outdoor time, with options to do more of either - whatever feels right for you. There will be the opportunity to go on a night walk, chat around a campfire and time to do your own thing. 

We provide colourful, nutritious and delicious vegetarian/vegan food made with love. 

Accommodation is in off-grid timber buildings nestled in the wood, featuring wood-burning stoves and compost toilets. See the video and weblinks below for more information on the facilities.

Our aim is for you to leave feeling nourished, connected to yourself and nature, and embodying mindfulness. 

This retreat counts as Continuing Professional Development (CPD). 

This retreat is suitable for:

• Mindfulness teachers
• Coaches and therapists
• Yoga and meditation instructors
• Anyone with an established mindfulness practice

This retreat is not an introduction to mindfulness for beginners.

The retreat runs from 10am on Tue 8 Sep to 4pm on Wed 9 Sep. There is an option to add a second, self-guided night for £100, covering accommodation and food, leaving at 10am on Thu 10 Sep.

What previous participants said...

"A relaxing and mindful experience, with fun activities and opportunity to connect with heart warming people." 

"A beautiful space and nourishing activities and food."

"Weave nature, community spirit, yoga and good food with a forest setting."

"This was a beautiful weekend! Lovely balance of chat and quiet, activity and stillness."

Watch a video created by Seb Drewett at our Spring 2024 retreat here.

Hazel Hill Wood is a beautiful and secluded 70-acre conservation woodland and retreat centre with simple indoor accommodation in off-grid eco-buildings with hot showers. 

Meet your facilitators

Nick Mabey is a qualified coach and facilitator, and has been coming to Hazel Hill in various capacities since 2011. He loves to use nature as a teacher in his work, and also as a way of revitalising mentally, physically and spiritually. Nick was taught mindfulness meditation in 2008 and started facilitating workshops a couple of years later. He incorporates mindfulness within his coaching practice, even writing about this for his masters dissertation, and also offers practice training.

Charley Miller started working at Hazel Hill Wood in 2018, managing the wood for wildlife and people. She loves introducing new people to the wood and its wildlife. Charley set up Wildlife and Wellbeing as a community interest company in 2024, running nature connection events in and around Salisbury. She trained as a mindfulness teacher in 2025 and specialises in mindfulness in nature. 

Tickets

• Sole occupancy Hideaway room - £270 per person
• Shared Oak House room - £220 per person
• OPTIONAL - Additional night's accommodation and food - £100 per person

Note:

• The Oak House has no USB or other power sockets.
• The Hideaway has USB power sockets.

The Hideaway

Bunk room in the Hideaway

Double Room in the Hideaway

The Oak House

Shared bunk room in the Oak House

Joining instructions

Arrival and departure

Please arrive at Hazel Hill Wood on Tuesday 8th September from 10am. We will show you to your room so you can settle in and enjoy a hot drink. Our first activity will start at 11am. 

The event officially ends at 4pm on Wednesday 9th September, but you have the opportunity to stay another night self-guided, until 10am on Thursday 10th September. Food will be provided but no activities - you might like to bring a book or creative project, or be completely mindful and see what happens when you get there!

Food - all food, including meals and snacks, will be provided and will be vegetarian (mostly vegan). If you have any dietary requirements other than vegetarian or vegan, please let us know when you book. We all pitch in for washing up.

Drinks – we’ll provide hot drinks (tea, proper coffee, herbal) and water.

Alcohol – we won't be providing any alcohol but if you would like to bring a bottle of wine or a couple of beers to enjoy in the evening(s) please do.

What to bring

This kit list is designed as a guide to help keep you warm, comfortable and safe. More information on the buildings can be found here on our website - you will be staying in the Oak House or Hideaway.

• Sheet for covering a mattress
• Sleeping bag and/or duvet – the off-grid buildings are heated, but may be colder than you are used to
• A pillow and pillow case
• Slippers or warm socks for wearing in the buildings
• Comfortable, warm clothing
• Waterproof coat (and trousers if you have them)
• Waterproof walking boots/wellies (there are spare wellies at the wood)
• Toiletries – please note that grey water goes through a reedbed system, so natural and biodegradable products are preferred
• A towel
• Insect repellent (suitable for ticks)
• Torch
• Water bottle

Ticks are present in the wood - please read NHS tick and Lyme disease guidance.

Using mobile phones, and emergency contact

Please note that we’re off-grid, so there is no mains electricity at Hazel Hill Wood. There are USB sockets in the Hideaway bedrooms - powered by solar panels and a generator. You may want to bring a battery mobile charger if staying in the Oak House. There is patchy mobile phone reception at the wood, some providers get limited signal. We recommend you view this as an opportunity to immerse yourselves in nature and try a digital detox! If you do need to be contacted, or to make an external call, we have an emergency mobile phone at the wood - 07487 326370.

Getting here

We encourage sustainable travel to the wood, and will share a spreadsheet nearer the time to help coordinate co-cycling and car sharing.

Options include:

- Cycling from Salisbury (7 miles) or Dean (Wilts) train station (3 miles).

- Car/taxi sharing. People often use Classic Cabs on 01722 710111. It's advisable to book in advance.

- Bus from Salisbury - number 37.

Draft schedule

Tuesday

10am Welcome and settle in, hot drinks

11am Mindful tour of the wood, group welcome and intros

1pm Lunch

2pm Mindfulness activity

4pm Tea break and free time

5.30pm Mindful movement

7pm Dinner

8pm Campfire

Wednesday

8am Breakfast

9am Mindful practical task

11am Tea break

11.30am Silent mindfulness practice

1pm Lunch

2pm Mindfulness activity

3.30pm Closing circle

4pm Finish

Option to stay another night, leaving by 10am on Thursday

FAQs

Can I bring my children?

This event is for adults only. We could run a family event in future - please let us know if this is of interest.

Can I bring my pet?

Sorry, no pets.

Can I share room with my friend who has booked separately?

Definitely, please email Charley at charley@waw.org.uk with your names.

Anything else?

If this hasn't answered all of your questions, please contact Charley on charley@waw.org.uk or 07519 464023. Otherwise, we look forward to meeting/seeing you!