Escaping to the forest with Woodland Women

If you’re feeling the need to escape outdoors and reconnect with the natural world, try a day as a Woodland Woman in the forests of Tortworth Arboretum.

If you go down to the woods today… you may come across a bright yellow canopy peeking out of a quiet grove carpeted with wildflowers. The fabulous Rebecca Cork (whom I interviewed many moons ago about her festival, Feast in the Woods), organises Woodland Women days from this quiet corner of Tortworth Forest Centre. These monthly forays into the outdoors help women escape from the city, learn new skills and relax around the campfire in a stress-free environment.

WOODLAND WOMEN DAYS AT TORTWORTH FOREST CENTRE

 

What does Bex hope to achieve with Woodland Women days? “They address a very real need in the women who attend. A need to take a break from work, whether in an office, in a caring role at work or providing for family members. A need to stop for a few hours and take stock of what is important. Some of our women have many roles – mother, wife, career woman – but when life brings big changes such as children leaving for university or a relationship break up, we need some time to reassess how we view ourselves and what is important to us, who we are. Time in nature with like-minded women seems to help with this by providing time out, a chance to learn new skills and crafts, share healthy food cooked on a fire and have fun in a relaxed, nurturing and non-competitive space.”

Each Woodland Women day is a little bit different – you might learn willow craft, try meditation, practise the basics of bushcraft or cook up a feast on the campfire. Whatever you try, you’ll definitely get the chance to cuddle the adorable resident goats. When I joined Rebecca and a group of wild women in February we made stars and wreaths of willow and wildflowers, ate a massive stew round the fire and tried a spot of yoga in a meadow of snowdrops. You can’t help buy relax in these beautiful surroundings, and is there anything more satisfying than going home after a day outdoors smelling of wood smoke?

Become a Woodland Woman
Based in the South West? head to one of this summer’s Woodland Women days – the next is May 28th, and days on offer range from tree identification to gourmet camp cooking with tickets priced £16.50-£21. Find events on Facebook or via Honeywoods Camping. The wonderful Feast in the Woods festival will also take place between May 26 and 29 2017 in Kent and will include foraging, cooking, wild swimming, food talks and forest school sessions.