Reflect, Restore, Reconnect: A Day of Reflective Practice in Nature for Busy Professionals
A rejuvenating and nourishing reflective day retreat for busy professionals at the magical Dilston Physic Garden near Corbridge, plus one follow up online 1-2-1 coaching or supervision session to continue and build on your reflections from the day.
Do you love the feeling of being in nature? Are you interested in experiencing a reflective practice based in beautiful botanic gardens to boost your thinking and energy?
This is a day for a refreshing retreat, using the power of nature to consider your work practice and more. Enjoy being around like-minded professionals and welcome in the natural world to support and deepen your thinking and provide new wisdom.
Our chosen location for the day
Dilston Physic Garden is an extraordinary botanic garden and sanctuary in nature, situated near Corbridge in Northumberland. The garden was named as 'One of the UK's 15 most tranquil places to visit' by The Guardian in 2023.
It is a living, breathing science garden with over 700 heritage flowers, herbs, vegetables, and trees with rich histories in health, healing, and medicine. This is most definitely a place to rejuvenate mind, body, and spirit.
We will have exclusive use of the Herbology House for the day, as well as full access to the two acres of varied gardens. You will have a chance to explore the many plants, as well as the themed art sculptures. Perhaps you will take time to relax on the chamomile lawn, unwind by the tranquillity pool, reflect in the sage garden or lose yourself in the labyrinth and spirit henge. There is a lot to explore and experience in this beautiful setting.
I have also arranged a short tour and talk on Botanical Brain Balms: Exploring Plant Medicine for the Mind with Dr Nicolette Perry, pharmacologist and director of the garden. This seemed apt for a day of reflection and using our brains! Nicolette will introduce us to the physic garden, with a focus on plant medicine to improve sleep, memory, mood, and much more. This will help us to fully appreciate the power of medicinal plants to nurture and maintain our mind, as we uncover the secrets of nature’s own pharmacy!
Practicalities – please see separate FAQ's for essential information you will need to plan for your day with us.
Included in the price is your entry to the gardens for the day, the walk and talk with Dr Perry, our exclusive use of the Herbology House, refreshments throughout the day and all facilitation and materials. You will need to bring your own packed lunch.
This is an opportunity for you to:
- Have time and space in the inspiring outdoors
- Reflect on your work and yourself
- Deepen your personal connection with nature
- Experience nature-connection practices
- Experience the power of nature as co-facilitator
- Make new connections with like-minded people
- Build on your resilience and resourcefulness
- Reset your parasympathetic nervous system
Who is this day for?
All professionals - coaches, leaders, therapists, mentors and others - everyone is welcome who wants a supported and friendly space for reflection. You may have worked in and with 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’re seeking greater clarity about your work or life, or you’ve got stuck in a rut and need some 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 desire for a day for you - to replenish and restore yourself so you can take a renewed energy to your work and life. This one-day retreat is a chance to breathe and find your path and yourself, with nature as a guide and dynamic co-facilitator.
Summer Bundle: Reflective Retreat and follow-up 1-2-1 Coaching or Supervision
Summer is a time of abundance and displays. To make the most of this we will be at the incredible Dilston Physic Garden in Northumberland, amidst a living, breathing science garden with flowers, herbs, vegetables and trees with rich histories in health, healing, and medicine.
Our Summer Retreat will be surrounded by flourishing gardens and wildlife that speak of the season and fill our senses.
And we will use all this that is around us in nature to support us in our reflections and see what emerges as we learn from its wisdom.
This is a Re-Treat – these days are planned as a treat for you – come and have an enjoyable, relaxed day full of guided reflection, learning and laughter in a natural environment that asks nothing of you, except to simply be.
Sample Agenda
09:45 - 10:00 Arrival and refreshments
Arriving, grabbing a cuppa and settling in.
10:00 - 10:15 Welcome
Welcome and meeting your facilitator: Christina
10:15 - 10:45 Community Agreement
Health & Safety, working in nature, belonging and reflection on our personal outcomes for the day
10:45 - 12:30 Connecting with Nature
A short walk and talk tour of the gardens focusing on Botanical Brain Balms: Exploring Plant Medicine for the Mind. Followed by recharging and relaxing with a mix of grounding, connecting and reflection practices to help us deepen and align our connection with self, our work and nature
12:30 - 13:15 Lunch
Please bring your own packed lunch. Drinks and snacks will be provided.
13:15 - 15:30 Reflection in partner with nature
Working with nature as we walk, sit and explore our inner and outer landscapes, with an offer of practices that will engage us individually, in pairs and as a group. Creative crafting exercise with a summer theme.
15:30 – 16:15 Cuppa & treats, reflections and connection
Developing our learnings and sharing our insights and what we are taking away from our day
16:15 Close
