We sowed the seeds of love

We showed them how to sing

Grown with a knowing of something in their blood

Where ceremony begins, begins…. Garden of England, Sam Lee

Experience the ultimate fusion of music and nature at this Conscious Concert in the Sacred Wild. Experience a curated journey through a serene immersion into the enchanting English flower meadows nestled along the banks of the River Thames, and rediscover your innermost essence. A deep remembrance of the wholesome self in meditative serenity, accompanied by the embodied stillness of the ancient Oaks of Hardwick Estate.

We start our rendezvous with an introduction to the special place we are gathering, and the meaning of the trees which hold the sky above us. Let's embark on a journey where we shall encounter the wise elders - the splendid ancient oaks of Hardwick. Dmitry Glazkov of Sadhama guides your mediation in a nurturing atmosphere to attain a state of being present, to soothe our minds, and to attentively hear the whispers of our authentic selves and those of the land spirits around us.

We gather around the fire hearth to meet the community and explore the ways we can get back to the land. Nick Hayes, the author of the Book of Trespass, talks about the Right to Roam campaign’s real purpose - to reignite that ancient culture of care and reciprocity that once we all had with the land. Drawing from the lived experience of indigenous knowledge from across the globe, we will discuss how concepts of kinship and guardianship can apply to England, and how cultural practices can rouse the sleeping giants of this land to help.

We culminate the evening with a concert like no other. Musical intro into the Hardwick sacred land by Daughter of The Water & Sam Lee's poetry and enchanting voice bring joy by merging into the unity of nature and its orchestra of sounds. The acoustic of the river, the rhythm of the elements and the symphony of the birds collide into a soul melting experience. Sam Lee's talent goes beyond being nominated for the Mercury Prize in music. He collects and preserves the English heritage of folk poetry and traditions of singing. Exactly like our ancestors have done for thousands years before, we gather in community spirit and sing together to celebrate the joy of life.

"The universe is a cosmic dance, our biological rhythms are part of this dance, and when our body is in harmony with inherent rhythmicities of nature, we experience wholeness. Health is the return of the memory of wholeness."
Deepak Chopra

Lightworking the liminal, listening to the land

fingering at mystery, mystery….

When we heard the Sam Lee’s song The Garden of England, it resonated strongly. The lyrics’ bittersweet remembrance of how deeply spiritual this land is, and what has been done to it over the years, touches the heart with a profound sense of connection and rebellion. It so perfectly captured the essential intentions behind the work we started at Hardwick with our retreats - to provide a space where people can reconnect and rewild with the powerful spirit of this land, and work with it to find more balance, peace and joy in their lives, as centred and grounded beings.

When we found out that our neighbour Nick Hayes, who is Hardwick’s artist in residency and land rights activist, was a good friend of Sam, it seemed destined that all of our work should culminate in this diverse yet inextricably linked celebration. We are delighted to bring it into fruition!

We will have a woodland cafe serving an evening meal, sweet treats and warming chai to keep you well fed and refreshed. All food will be plant based, organic where possible and as locally sourced as possible.

We use seasonal vegetables grown on Tolhurst Organic farm, based just a few metres away, who use stock free farming to produce the lowest possible carbon footprint, cruelty-free food. Their work is truly inspiring and aligned with our ethos of re-connecting and re-aligning with mother nature to live in more harmony.

Our event takes place in a secluded and serene riverside setting on a community run rural estate in the Thames Valley. Surrounded by lush green forests with ancient oaks, rare wildflower meadows with astounding biodiversity and the glistening waters of the upstream Thames, this unique location is easy to get to, yet feels deeply held in wild nature.

Hardwick estate is only 40 minutes by train from London, and just 20 minutes by car from Junction 12 on the M4. Easily accessible from the main transport hubs at Reading, yet set in the rolling countryside of the Chilterns AONB, Hardwick is ideally located for a weekend getaway of peace and tranquility.

Arrival By Train
There are direct trains to Pangbourne station from London, or you can change at Reading train station for connections to Pangbourne for services coming from the south west or north. Pangbourne is just seven minutes by train from Reading, and then the retreat location of Hardwick Estate is a 10 minute drive or 40 minute walk.

Arrival By Taxi

Hardwick Estate is a 10 minute taxi ride from Pangbourne station, or a 20 minute taxi ride from Reading station.

Arrival By Car
By car the retreat is just 20 minutes from Junction 12 on the M4. We will send out the exact address and map pin once you've booked your ticket. If you have a spare seat in your car and are happy to share a ride, or if you need a lift to the gathering, here is the link to the our retreat community Whats app group: Return To Nature 

We hope to be able to accommodate all who are interested & feel drawn to come together as a community.  

We have tickets available for the Full  Event: Thursday evening arrival 5pm - 6pm which are limited in numbers to facilitate deep experience of rest and reconnection as a community.

Your Tickets include:

✔️ full immersion into sacred lands and your beautiful self!

✔️ All activities,  meditation, talks and concert.

All tickets are booked on this website - tap the green Select  button on the right to secure your place. 

For those who would like to combine the fun of the event and karma of the service we have few Seva Tickets. These tickets are designed for those who enjoy getting involved in the running of the event by giving the core crew a hand with whatever is needed to be done on the day, or those who can't afford the full price of the tickets but still want to come.  If you’re keen to be involved, apply here.

We will welcome you to our beautiful location between 5-6pm. There will be time to settle and relax into your space before we gather. 

5-6pm - Arrivals

6-7pm - Tree Meditation - Accessing Your Own Nature with Dmitry Glazkov from Sadhama. There will be an enlightening introduction into the Meaning of the Trees which will inform your Meditation practice.

7:30-8:30pm - Talk by Nick Hayes - "Our Right To Land"

8:30-9pm - Daughter of The Water

9pm - Sam Lee Acoustic Performance

 Live Music & Sacred songs to rejoin as a community around the camp fire.

Sam Lee

Mercury Prize nominated folk singer, conservationist, song collector, award winning promoter, broadcaster and activist.

Sam Lee plays a unique role in the British music scene. A highly inventive and original singer, folk song interpreter, passionate conservationist, song collector and successful creator of live events. Alongside his organisation, The Nest Collective, Sam has shaken up the music scene breaking boundaries between folk and contemporary music and the assumed places and ways folksong is appreciated. Sam's helped develop its ecosystem inviting in a new listenership interrogating what the messages in these old songs hold for us today. With his latest critically acclaimed album, Old Wow, he’s summonsed up a truly compelling and emotional album that takes his work to yet another level. Likewise in 2021, Sam releases his debut novel 'The Nightingale, notes on a songbird' telling the epic tale of this highly endangered bird and their place in culture folklore, folksong, music and literature throughout the millennia.

Website: https://samleesong.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samleesong/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCntKxBuiHAR12u4LvpEtxPA

Dmitry Glazkov 

Dmitry is a co-founder of Sadhama, running wellbeing retreats throughout the year and teaching online courses and classes.

Dmitry has been teaching yoga, meditation and breathwork for over ten years. He shares a deep and powerful toolkit of techniques, drawing on Slavic, Vedic & Yogic traditions, as well as concepts of meditation and mindfulness taught by Buddhas. Dmitry has undergone teacher training in Hatha and Kundalini Yoga and as an Ayurvedic practitioner. He is passionate about studying the original texts to get to the ultimate and authentic sources of knowledge. By highlighting the fundamental and infinite number of characteristics which make each one of us unique, practices taught by Dmitry are tailored, bespoke and deeply transformative for each individual, as they connect with their true nature. 

Website: https://sadhama.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadhamayoga/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWyHUGYlJ9egYGGUe-HIUsQ

Nick Hayes 

Nick Hayes is a bestselling author, illustrator, and a co-founder of the Right to Roam campaign  which seeks to make nature more accessible for all. His new book, The Trespasser’s Companion is published by Bloomsbury.

He has written four graphic novels, exploring the relationship between the human and non-human. His most recent book, The Book of Trespass is a non-fiction account of climbing over the walls of the politicians, aristocrats and media magnates that own England, and a call-to-arms for more public access to nature. Follow him on Instagram @nickhayesillustration for examples of his work.

Karen Buckland

Crafting beautiful, nourishing and heartfelt food is Karen's way of fulfilling her highest purpose. Serving people with joyful, nutritious meals made from earth-kind plant ingredients, is honouring the abundant and sensuous gifts of the planet's divine nature. Karen spent many years at the top of the restaurant industry working as a Head Chef in London running fine-dining kitchens, and successful event catering businesses at large events getting top reviews in Guardian and other media. Using this experience combined with a keen interest in holistic health and environmental sustainability, along with an understanding of Ayurvedic approaches to cookery and diet, Karen weaves the alchemy of food to make your whole self feel more vibrant, more alive, and more healed. 

Karen is a co-founder of Sadhama, running wellbeing retreats throughout the year and teaching online courses and classes.