Join Debs Clark of Vibes and Minds for a magical day retreat for children and families in the woodland at Found Outdoors nature reserve.

The day will include a range of sessions in small groups including mental health and wellbeing workshops, mindfulness, expressive art, meditation, relaxation, yoga, breath-work, physical fitness, massage therapy and a sensory area.

Vibes and Minds work with children everyday, helping them understand and manage their own mental health. Many struggle with anxieties and need help, support, and understanding. This day is about them! It will be an opportunity to express and connect, and to learn therapies and techniques in the freedom of the outdoors.

Suitable for children age 4-18.

Tickets and further info

Unfortunately our lovely event leader is unable to be with us today due to a family emergency so we have decided to cancel the event. Our thoughts are with her.
Many apologies and thank you for your understanding 💚

Come and join us in the woods to celebrate Imbolc with a campfire, candles, bulb planting and hot drinks.

We have 20 tickets available. Tickets are free with a suggested (voluntary) donation of £5.

book your tickets here

What is Imbolc?

Imbolc - or St Brigid’s day - is celebrated on 1st-2nd February or the second full moon and is often referred to the first day of spring.

As one of the cross quarter festivals of the Celtic wheel of the year, Imbolc is the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox. These festivals are a more recent blending of ancient pagan, nordic and Wiccan calendars and as such not linked with any religion.

Why is it relevant to us today?

Many of us are feeling off kilter, the last few years have taken their toll. The world is an unsettled place at present and this is leaving many feeling ungrounded and a little at sea as far as our wellbeing is concerned. The wheel of the year helps to give us a framework or compass offering a little structure and focus. As the wheel progresses every 6-7 weeks over the year it offers us an opportunity to reflect, observe and take guidance from nature and reconnect with the natural world and ourselves.

The Event

The invitation is to take your prompts from nature, the days are getting longer and the spring bulbs are starting to show themselves. It is the perfect time to begin to weave your dreams and ideas fully into your consciousness, to make conscious resolutions/goals for the year ahead. It isn’t about being perfect but is time to explore ideas and hopes for the future.

We will take time out in nature to connect with what we are drawn to but also with what we need now. We will consciously make space for our intentions by cleansing/ letting go of what no longer serves us around the fire. Candles and emerging light are linked to Imbolc so we will be making candles to give focus for our intentions.

Lastly you will be invited to plant a bulb on the land to really set the seeds of your intentions and energetically give something back to the land.

Please bring along:
- a journal and pen
- warm waterproof clothes
- a chair should you want one (there will be tree stumps to sit on)

We will have herbal teas in abundance to keep us warm.

book your tickets here

On 6 July 2022 thirteen artists took part in the Greensand Residency. As part of Bath Spa University’s Knowledge Exchange programme this was a collaborative project with Claire Loder, artist and lecturer at the university.

The day helped to facilitate the participants explore their relationship with the more-than-human world and how that connection impacts arts practice. It was a testing ground for longer artist residencies at Found Outdoors.

It was documented by filmmaker Sam Wilkins who has produced a short film of the day (8 min).

Join us online for a free live YouTube premier on Thursday 27th October at 7pm. Followed by a live chat/Q&A afterwards.

Participating artists were: Ani Lacy, Chip Coates, Chris Glynn, Clare Day, Diana Ahmed, Elliot Coffin, Imogen Bastone, Jason Forster, Jo Ball, Ling Ho, Lydia Halcrow, Natasha Mayo and Sam Francis.

Link: Greensand Residency Film Premier on YouTube

What is the Greensand Residency?

This project is a collaboration between Claire Loder, artist and lecturer at Bath Spa University and Found Outdoors CIC. It is part of Bath Spa University’s Knowledge Exchange programme.

The aim of the day is to facilitate artist participants in exploring their relationship with the more-than-human world and how that connection impacts arts practice. It is a testing ground for longer artist residencies at Found Outdoors. The day will be documented by filmmaker Sam Wilkins.

Who is it for?

Artists at any stage of their career who would benefit from spending time thinking and reflecting and are interested in the possibility of co-creating with people, plants and animals and developing their ecoliteracy.

What the day will look like

Participants will spend time at Found Outdoors 54 acre woodland site in rural Wiltshire. Claire will lead a morning session exploring the overlap between art and ecology and will orientate you with the site. In the afternoon you will spend time on your own in dispersed locations reflecting and/or creating. At the end of the day we will come back together as a group to share our thoughts and findings.

Diversity

We acknowledge that people participating in both the art and outdoors sectors do not represent the diversity of the general population of the UK. We want to be part of changing this and so very much welcome applications from participants who identify as being from an underrepresented group/s.

Accessibility

The location is a gently sloping site of woods and grassland and is 1km from end to end. During the day we will be walking over uneven ground, woodland tracks and grass. There are no buildings on site except our compost toilet which has three steps up from ground level. If you would like to discuss your access needs before applying then please email Fiona - hello@foundoutdoors.org

Transport

There is a car park on site and a secure area for bicycles.
We encourage lift sharing. Once participants have been selected we will facilitate this.
It is possible to get to the site via public transport on the Faresaver 87 bus. This connects with trains at Trowbridge or Westbury and other bus routes at Devizes BUT the last bus back is at 13:39. For anyone arriving by bus we can arrange a lift back to Trowbridge, Westbury or Devizes by car.

To apply

Email c.loder@bathspa.ac.uk with:

• - 150-250 words describing how the day would benefit your artistic practice OR the equivalent in video or audio format.
• - Up to 3 images and/or a link to your website or Instagram

We are keen to attract a diverse pool of applicants. We would be grateful if you completed our Equality and Diversity form (click here) to help us understand whether we have reached underrepresented groups in our promotion of this opportunity.

Application deadline: 30 June 2022

We will notify successful participants on 1 July. Please only apply if you are available to take part on 6 July.

Links:
Instagram: @claireloderheads @wearefoundoutdoors
Web: claireloder.co.uk foundoutdoors.org

Join Debs Clark of Vibes and Minds along with Sally Masters of Master Fitness and artists Emma Jelf and Grace Dalgleish for a magical day retreat for you and your children in the woods at Found Outdoors including...

• - Art in the woods with Emma Jelf and Grace Dalgleish
• - Yoga and meditation
• - Relaxation and breathwork
• - Physical fitness and movement with Sally-Ann Masters
• - Nutrition
• - Sensory area
• - Campfire marshmallows and hot chocolate to round off the day!
• - Tea, coffee, water, biscuits and fruit provided.

Vibes and Minds work with children everyday helping them understand and manage their own mental health. They have seen the effects that the pandemic has had on the lives of children and young people. Many have struggled with anxieties and need help, support, and understanding. This day is about them! It will be an opportunity to express and connect, and learn therapies and techniques from some wonderful people in the freedom of the outdoors.

Book Tickets

Over our first year many of you kindly offered to help so we’re excited for our first volunteer day on Sat 26 March.

We’re looking for 20 people to help us remove the old plastic tree guards from the lower part of Henning Wood. In return we’ll provide lunch, an afternoon tea break and, hopefully, a rewarding day outdoors in the company of like minded people. If that sounds like your kind of challenge then we’d love you to join us.

The Inch By Inch travelling exhibition is visiting Found Outdoors for it's penultimate venue. There is a sculpture trail featuring 11 artists in the woods, an artists talk, and art workshop.

Entry is FREE and booking is not required.

Parking is free but limited. Please book a parking space here.

Full details on the Inch by IN:CH website.