New for 2023: Get up close and personal with nature at Sharpham

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts
                                     
                   Rachel Carson, environmentalist
 

This retreat lets you get close to wildlife on the Sharpham Estate and reconnect with the natural world through mindfulness practice.

Sharpham is managed organically and we have been actively rewilding for the last three years, leading to increased wildlife across the estate.

You'll have the chance to experience the wonder of insects, butterflies, wildflowers, birds and mammals that are making Sharpham their home.

You'll spend time with wildlife experts exploring the habitats and species across the estate.

You don’t need any prior knowledge and activities will be tailored to the season and the weather.
 

This retreat is for you if you want to

• Get close to wildlife and nature in an amazing location on the banks of the River Dart
• Learn about our native wildlife and how to identify what you see
• Develop a wider ecological awareness and understanding of your place in the world as part of, rather than separate from, nature
• Explore the benefits of nature-based mindfulness, mindfulness meditation and nature connection
• Rest and rejuvenate whilst deepening your connection with nature and your appreciation of wildlife

What you’ll experience on this retreat

• A chance to witness our efforts to re-wild the Sharpham Estate 
• An opportunity to get close to wildlife with our local experts. Activity sessions will be two to three hours and include:

	REWILDING TOUR Introduction to our approach to rewilding and managing the land. Learn about the burgeoning rewilding movement in the UK.
	DAWN CHORUS BIRD WALK Experience the early morning dawn chorus with our local bird expert. Learn to distinguish some common calls and songs and how to identify different species.
	WILDFLOWERS AND FORAGING WALK Learn how to identify our native plants and discover their medicinal and culinary uses with our botanist Lisa.
	BUTTERFLIES AND INSECT SAFARI Get out in our rewilding meadows searching for bugs, beetles and butterflies and do a bit of sweep-netting.
	MOTH TRAPPING There are over 2500 species of moths in the UK. Set up our moth trap overnight and discover the secret world of our night flying moths.
	BATS AND OWLS ON A NIGHT WALK Sharpham is home to over 10 species of native bats, including a colony of Lesser Horseshoes in the Coach House. Witness these as they emerge at dusk using our bat detectors and spot our resident Barn Owls as they go hunting.
	TREE IDENTIFICATION Identify our native trees and enjoy a spot of forest bathing.

• Three daily 30-minute meditations including guided, sitting, walking and nature-based meditation
• Opportunities to share your experience in supporting community
• Periods of silence and quiet contemplation, including spending time in nature on the wider estate
• Full-board accommodation in a Grade II-listed Georgian Coach House set within Capability Brownian parkland, with Grade 2*-listed gardens designed by Percy Cane in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to nature, amid breath-taking scenery on the banks of the River Dart
• A single-occupancy room and your own space in which to rejuvenate, with free time to deeply rest and reconnect with yourself, far from the busy-ness of daily life. 
• A safe and supportive community with like-minded people, sharing experiences in the kitchen gardens and on the wider Estate
• Delicious, healthy, home-cooked vegetarian food that regularly receives rave reviews

Facilities in The Coach House

The Grade II-listed Coach House has been sympathetically converted to create accommodation in four wings surrounding a central courtyard.

The Coach House has 18 bedrooms, 12 of which are en-suite. The 6 others share 3 bathrooms, one for each pair of rooms. 

We have an accessible ground-floor bedroom with en-suite bathroom in the Western Wing of The Coach House. Please contact us to book this.

The Eastern Wing features a lounge, library, kitchen and has a contemporary timber-frame extension which serves as a dining room and meditation/meeting space.

The extension has large French doors which open out on to a patio and garden with direct access out on to the south-facing lawns.

Not all of the gardens or the estate have disabled access, so do contact us to discuss your needs and what is possible.

Mindfulness in nature at Sharpham

When you experience Sharpham's inspiring and nourishing environment, we hope you'll connect spiritually with the natural world, so you’ll:

• become aware of how we are all part of nature - not artificially separate from it
• pay attention to and appreciate the natural world surrounding us
• explore nature through your senses and your natural creativity
• Tread more lightly on our finite planet, developing a respect and reverence for all living things

Click here to read our ethos and principles

What you need to know

If you decide to stay with us, we’ll send you a list of what you need to bring for this retreat in your Welcome Letter that we send out after you've booked.

You can also find out more about staying with us on our Frequently Asked Questions page, including

• accessibility information
• why we encourage you to come on your own and not with partners or friends
• what the difference is between our retreats

Our food & your dietary needs

We have a fully stocked, mostly organic and vegetarian kitchen. The main meal is at lunch time and is prepared by our Cook, supported by retreatants. As far as possible, we try to use produce from our gardens which retreatants help to grow.

We can accommodate gluten-free and/or vegan dietary needs. However, our kitchen is not gluten, dairy nor nut-free. We do not provide gluten-free bread, but you are welcome to bring your own.

Please make sure you include dietary restrictions and any food allergies on your Booking Form. We may need to communicate further with you about specifics. The booking form is sent as a link once you have booked and paid for a retreat.

Our water is provided from our own spring, UV treated and filtered.

Your physical and mental health

This retreat is suitable for you if you are new to mindfulness, or seeking to renew or reconnect with your practice.

Although meditation and mindfulness can be helpful in managing stress, depression and anxiety our retreats might not be suitable if you are experiencing major depression or other clinically diagnosed psychiatric illness such as bipolar disorder, psychosis or current self-harming. Click here for more information and for our booking process

We have an accessible en-suite bedroom in the Coach House that you can learn more about here

I have been shown that I can be strong and I do have inner power if I get back to nature

             - Sharpham Trust retreatant