Who are these retreats for?

All coaches, business owners, leaders, therapists, mentors and other busy professionals, who feel they would benefit from a reflective day in nature.   Whether new to your work or with years of experience - everyone is welcome. You may have worked in nature before or not experienced this yet and want to see how it feels. Or maybe you want the confidence to start using nature more in your work and/or your reflective practice. It could be this is a time of transition, maybe you are seeking greater clarity about your practice, your work or business, or you’ve got stuck in a rut and need a new perspective to move you forward. You may want to experience working in nature and see what it can add. Or you simply feel the need for a day for you - to replenish and restore yourself so you can take a renewed energy to your work and life. These one-day retreats are a chance to breathe and find your path and yourself, with nature as a guide and dynamic co-facilitator.

Why utilise nature and the outdoors?

There’s a reason being in nature feels so good. Research shows that spending just two hours a week in nature can lower blood pressure, calm stress hormones, boost the immune system, lift self-esteem, ease anxiety and brighten mood. Being outdoors also helps us feel less isolated and more at ease — and the effects last long after we head back inside. Even something as simple as listening to birdsong or breathing in the scents released by trees can bring measurable benefits to our whole system.

So why does this matter?

Because when we’re working with others, it’s important to be in a resourceful, open state. Nature helps us get there. It invites us to slow down, to widen our thinking, and to see challenges from a broader, clearer perspective. It supports us to feel more connected, both to ourselves and to the world around us. It sparks our curiosity. And when we move through nature - especially walking - it gets even better. Walking helps both sides of the brain to work together, boosting creativity by up to 60%. It’s a simple, powerful way to find fresh ideas, new possibilities, and deeper insights.

Our different locations for the retreat days in 2026

Northumberland: An extraordinary Botanic garden and sanctuary in nature, Dilston Physic Garden is a living, breathing science garden where you can explore over 700 heritage flowers, herbs, vegetables, and trees with rich histories in health, healing, and medicine. Whether you’re curious, creative, or seeking a peaceful escape, this is a place to rejuvenate mind, body, and spirit.  'One of the UK's 15 most tranquil places to visit' -The Guardian 2023 This includes a 'tour for the mind': "Botanical Brain Balms: Exploring Plant Medicine for the Mind" led by Dr Nicolette Perry, pharmacognosist and director of the physic garden.  This immersive experience around the gardens, will introduce us to the concept of a modern day physic garden with a focus on plant medicine to improve sleep, memory, mood, and more.  We will gain a newfound appreciation for the power of medicinal plants to nurture and maintain our mind - a key tool for reflection! 

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Scotland:  Dr Neil's Garden a tranquil oasis of calm on the shores of Duddingston Loch, in Edinburgh.  This is a very beautiful. special and quite secret garden.  The garden came from the imagination, dedication, and sheer hard work of two local GPs, Doctors Andrew and Nancy Neil who began creating the garden in 1963. More than a garden to see beautiful plants and trees and drink in the views, it is a place to take time out to relax and connect with nature, just as was intented of the two Doctors, who created it as 'medicine' for thier patients.  The garden is now maintained by a charity run by local people. There are an amazing range of trees and shrubs in this small space and lots of beautiful flowers and plants including a small Physic Garden.  Dotted thorughout the gardens are a copious amount of places to sit, rest and contemplate your surroundings.  It's a real treasure trove of a place.  And the Loch is full of birdlife as well as other wild creatures - deer and otter included.  You could really spend days here and never get bored! 

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Newcastle Upon Tyne: Gosforth Nature Reserve is a haven for wildlife on the outskirts of the city. You can wander through expansive woodlands, wetlands, and reedbeds, where nature unfolds in a captivating display. From otters and birds of prey, to Roe Deer and rare orchids, the reserve is home to over 1,600 species - offering endless opportunities for discovery and reflection. (The reserve was featured on BBC Winterwatch in January 2025).  We will have exclusive use of the Field Studies Room for the day, as well as access to the full 60-hectare reserve site.  Our day includes an exclusive connecting with nature through photgraphy session, where professional nature photgrapher Trai Anfield will be with us as part of the reflective experience, not to teach photography in the traditional sense, but to help us slow down and really see. Through simple prompts and shared exploration, we will use the camera as a way of noticing more deeply and capturing what moves us, not just what looks nice.  No previous experience needed, we will simply use our camera phones.