Frequently Asked Questions - Events

• What is the difference between Sharpham's various retreats?

  The Barn Retreat offers meditation retreats throughout the year in a wonderful converted old Devon Linhay. Retreats are based on a contemporary approach to Western Buddhism and participants have the chance to experience a schedule of meditations, teacher-led inquiry and working meditation in the organic garden.

  Sharpham House offers secular mindfulness retreats with the opportunity to stay in a beautiful Grade I-listed Georgian mansion house at the centre of the Estate and surrounded by superb gardens. Retreats at Sharpham House are fully catered for with cooks and house-keeping staff in attendance. Retreats include Mindfulness for Beginners, as well as a variety of themed retreats such as seasonal, walking, silent and retreats for stress/burn-out.

  The Coach House offers retreats with accommodation in a converted stable courtyard in the grounds of Sharpham House. The retreats have an ecological focus and offer an opportunity to live in community and explore the benefits of nature-based mindfulness. The daily rhythm of the retreats revolve around mindfulness, gardening and nature connection, including experience of our rewilding land.

  Woodland Retreats offer a chance to stay under canvas in our woodland campsite in the grounds of Sharpham House with a focus on mindfulness and connecting to nature. Guided by our experienced leaders, participants will explore mindfulness in the inspirational setting offered by the Estate’s woodlands, gardens and parkland.

  Solo retreats are for experienced meditators and take place in The Cabin, within the grounds of The Barn Retreat Centre. They offer the chance to take a personal retreat and be immersed in solitude and nature, with daily work on the land.

  All of the above retreats are set at different locations across the beautiful 550-acre Sharpham Estate with views over the River Dart in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

• Why are Sharpham retreats so cheap?

  The Sharpham Trust is a registered charity (number: 285767) and a social enterprise which endeavours to keep the costs as low as possible by subsidising various aspects of the courses and retreats.

• What do I need to bring on a Bat & Stargazing night?

  It's a good idea to bring the following:

  • Snack - bring a healthy snack if you get peckish along the way
  • Hat
  • Torch
  • Waterproofs
  • Good comfy shoes or wellies
  • Paper and pen if you want to take notes
  • Bottle of water
  • If you have your own bat detector do bring it along

• What do I need to bring for the Food Fermenting Workshop?

  •             a packed lunch

  •             bottle of water

  •             Waterproofs

  •             Good comfy shoes or wellies

  •             Paper and pen if you want to take notes

  •             Camera if you want to take pictures

  •             We will supply enough fresh organic veg for all the ferment types you'll be making, but if you'd like to add your own home grown (must be organic) or wild foraged produce them please bring it along

  •             2 clean screw-top jars (2 medium size or 1 medium and 1 large). Also, 2 kilner ‘clip top’ jars if you have them (half litre and 1 litre size would be good, not essential but very useful).

   

• What do I need to bring on a bird walk?

  It's a good idea to bring the following:

  • Binoculars! Although if you don't have any, we can supply some
  • Paper and pen if you want to take notes
  • Camera if you want to take pictures
  • Hat & warm clothes
  • Waterproofs
  • Good comfy outdoor shoes or wellies
  • Snack - bring a health snack if you get peckish along the way
  • Bottle of water

• What do I need to bring for the Family Wildlife Explorers Day?

  • Paper and pen if you want to take notes or make sketches
  • A magnifying glass if you have one (if not we have some spares)
  • Waterproofs and layers
  • Good comfy outdoor shoes or wellies
  • A camera if you want to take pictures
  • Bring a healthy snack if you get peckish along the way
  • A bottle of water
  • Bottle of water
  • Insect repellent if you wish

  We advise that you wear long trousers to avoid scratches, cuts and possible ticks.

• What do I need to bring for the Wild for Moths event?

  • A healthy snack if you get peckish along the way
  • A sun-hat if necessary
  • Waterproofs
  • Good comfy shoes or wellies
  • Paper and pen if you want to take notes
  • Bottle of water

• What do I need to know & bring for the Family Canoe Paddle?

  Canoe Adventures advice on what to wear

  • Everyone should dress for a day outdoors.  Please note it is often cooler and/or brighter out on the water than you may be used to. Whatever the day’s weather forecast, bring waterproofs and a warm layer. 
  • Sun cream and hats are important when it is sunny, and shades/sunglasses are useful if you have them.  
  • We advise against jeans; they are not good in the heat or cold, and can be dangerous when wet and cold. We provide a 'dry bag' to keep your waterproofs and warm layers dry when you are not wearing them.
  • Footwear: wear shoes that stay on and that you don't mind getting a bit muddy.  Old trainers are ideal.  In summer, sandals with straps over the heel are great too. Flip-flops can get very slippery. Walking boots are fine.
     

  Canoe Adventures skippers are entitled to refuse people if they are not, in their opinion, sufficiently dressed for the day's conditions.

  Given the canoes require a minimum number of people and a specific adult:child ratio, turning away one or two people could cost the whole trip.  

  

  Canoe Adventures advice on what else to bring

  Canoe Adventures provide a 'dry bag' for your warm layers, waterproofs and precious things. 

  There is some space elsewhere in the canoe for bags of food and provisions which we advise you put in plastic bags or small backpacks that don't mind splashes or light mud.  You don't need to bring much more gear than that. 

  There is no reason to go in the water if you don't want to!  Nor should your camera or phone get wet, so long as you have suitable cases, good pockets in your waterproofs, or use our on board 'dry bag'. 

  Food

  Bring a snack for the children and, as you will be out until 2pm, bring a light picnic for when we stop on the shore. 

  Water

  Bring a bottle of drinking water each. At least a litre per person is recommended.  You may be surprised how dehydrated you can get on the water.

   

  Canoe Adventures health & safety

  By joining our activity you are presenting yourself as medically fit to do so. Please advise us in advance when you or anyone in your group has any health or fitness condition that may affect safety or ability to participate in canoeing. 

  Non-swimmers should make themselves known to their skipper/guide on the day. Advice given on 'dress' is part of our health and safety policy and risk assessment.
   

  Punctuality

  We work on a very tidal estuary so we cannot be flexible over start times, especially on low water trips.  The tide never waits!  One or two no shows or late arrivals could cost the whole trip.

  This event has been carefully planned and numbers are limited - please tell us immediately if you've booked but can't make it so we can give others the chance to come.

• What do I need to bring for the Family Nature Detectives Day?

  • Binoculars if you have your own (if not we have some spares)
  • Paper and pen if you want to take notes / sketches
  • Magnifying glass if you have one (if not we have some spares)
  • Waterproofs and layers
  • Good comfy oudoor shoes or wellies
  • Camera if you want to take pictures
  • Snack - bring a healthy snack if you get peckish along the way
  • Bottle of water

• What do I need to bring for the Foraging for Food & Medicine workshop?

  •             A mug for herbal tea

  •             A packed lunch and snacks

  •             2 clean glass jars (medium or small, not large)

  •             Hat and warm clothes

  •             Waterproofs

  •             Good comfy shoes or wellies

  •             Paper and pen if you want to take notes

  •             Bottle of water

  •             A basket with a handle for foraging, if you have one (optional)

• What is a Mindfulness Meditation Retreat?

  What is a mindfulness meditation retreat?

  Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally (Jon Kabat Zinn)

  A mindfulness meditation retreat offers a valuable opportunity to step out of everyday life to focus on being rather than doing. Without our usual distractions and diversions we meet our experience as it arises with a sense of spaciousness, care and compassion.

   

  When we sit in meditation we begin with developing mindfulness of our breathing to help us to steady our minds. Each time our mind wanders and we become distracted (which naturally happens), we bring our attention back to our breath. This practice of focus and awareness can be extended to encompass all of our experience including our physical sensations, thoughts, feelings and emotions. Being with our direct experience in this way can allow us insight into the nature of our lives, which in turn can lead to self-knowledge and wisdom.

  Mindfulness and retreating can sometime be portrayed in the wellness industry as being all about generating a sense of calm and relaxation. Although this can sometimes be the case, another perhaps more helpful way of seeing mindfulness practice is the way in which it can support our capacity to be with and transform our difficult feelings, emotions and life challenges. In this way we can live out of awareness rather than reactivity and make better choices for our lives; cultivate positive rather than negative thoughts and feelings states and be better placed to contribute and be of benefit to the beings we share with this planet with.

  What happens on a Sharpham Mindfulness Retreat?

  When you come on a mindfulness retreat at Sharpham you will experience the following across all of our retreat venues:

  • Three 30-40 minute formal meditation sessions per day. This is mainly sitting meditation, some silent, some guided. Leaders can help with sitting posture which can be on a chair, stool or matt or even lying down where people might have physical difficulties.
  • Nature-based mindfulness practice either through gardening or nature-connection and nature-sensing activities on the land
  • Self-compassion or metta-based practices
  • Some mindful movement or embodiment practice
  • Periods of silence to help you deepen into mindfulness practice
  • The chance to bring mindfulness into some everyday tasks and activities
  • The opportunity to share your mindfulness experience in the supportive company of fellow retreatants (sometimes we learn the most from listening to each others experience)
  • Guidance about how to integrate mindfulness practice into your everyday life

• What do I need to bring for the Family Art in Nature Day?

  • Warm, waterproof clothes and sturdy, waterproof footwear
  • A waterbottle for everyone in your group
  • An optional packed lunch - you can stay on in the woods to eat it for half an hour after the event
  • A snack if you get peckish along the way - even though we'll be supplying a snack and a hot drink

• What do I need to bring for the Family Mindfulness Day?

  What should you bring?

  • Drinks and biscuits are provided but please bring further drinks and snacks for the children if needed
  • Packed lunch for everyone in your group, to have with the shared vegan soup that will be provided free, as part of the event.
  • Waterproofs and layers
  • Good comfy outdoor shoes or wellies - we'll be in a woodland with compacted mud footpaths
  • Water
  • Insect repellent if you wish

   

  We advise that you wear long trousers to avoid scratches, cuts and possible ticks.

• What do I need to bring for the Amazing Migration Day?

  • Paper and pen if you want to take notes or make sketches
  • A magnifying glass if you have one (if not we have some spares)
  • Waterproofs and layers
  • Good comfy outdoor shoes or wellies
  • A camera if you want to take pictures
  • Bring a healthy snack if you get peckish along the way
  • Bottle of water
  • Insect repellent if you wish

  We advise that you wear long trousers to avoid scratches, cuts and possible ticks.

• What do I need to bring & wear for the Rewilding Tour?

  • A healthy snack if you get peckish along the way
  • A sun-hat and/or sun-cream if necessary
  • Waterproofs if required
  • Good, comfy walking shoes or wellies
  • Bottle of water

  Please wear long trousers, not shorts, as we will be walking in long grass and there is a chance of ticks.