BeWild

You don't have to be a die-hard outdoorsy person to enjoy and benefit from this programme. In fact it is designed for women who wouldn't necessarily go camping or out walking on their own but feel drawn to nature and would like to experience something a little more wild and adventurous than you're used to.

This will be a safe compassionate space for you to explore what it is like to be truly out in the wild, with the support of Jen and other like minded women. That said, this is not for the faint hearted! This journey will challenge you - indeed that is one of the reasons it is so transformational. You may well meet your "edge", so you must be prepared for that. A certain level of self-reliance is needed, however if you are willing to explore courage and are willing to be a little bit uncomfortable in the name of connecting with yourself and nature even more profoundly, then yes, this journey is for you.

To help us both decide whether this journey is right for you acceptance onto the programme is via a conversation with me.

Retreats take place in Spring (Gloucestershire), Summer (Dartmoor), early Autumn (Cornwall) and (early) Winter (Gloucestershire), and range from 3-4 days. You'll arrive at 12pm on day one, and leave (around) 2pm on the final day.

Dates for 2024 are:

Spring: 26-28th April

Summer: 20th-23rd June

Autumn: 26-29th September

Winter: 22nd-24th November

There is only one BeWild programme running each year. Applications open in July and close when we’re full!

Ideally, yes, although I do have a couple of small tents that you can hire for the retreats, which will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. You will need to bring your own bedding/mattresses etc. A full kit list will be provided and most women find they can source what they need by borrowing or hiring some of the bigger items, if they don’t wish to buy their own. More information about what you need to bring with you will be provided when you book, but it is my intention that no one has to buy a load of kit they might not use again, so don’t let kit concerns put you off. If you have any questions do feel free to email me to ask.

Depending on which location we are at there is either a compost toilet or portaloo, but there are no showers. This is truly back to basics! On Dartmoor we are however very lucky to have a very beautiful, natural but cold bath right on site....the stream! And in Cornwall we are not too far from the sea. It's fresh, but there's something incredibly invigorating about bathing in wild water. Many women think they will find the lack of showers one of the most challenging aspects of the retreats but it just becomes part of the adventure.

Due to the nature of the wild, particularly for the Dartmoor retreat, you really do need at least a certain level of mobility, if not fitness, to take part fully. Whilst all activities are optional - including the walk up to and back from the hut at the beginning and end of the Dartmoor retreat - your experience will be greatly enhanced if you can take part fully.

Being Dartmoor, and given the nature of river valleys in that region, there will be some scrambling over rocks, tree roots and undergrowth, and some climbs up slopes, however nothing should be too strenuous that it is out of the realms of someone with a basic level of fitness. The area around camp and getting down to the stream (e.g. to bathe and to collect water) is uneven and can be slippery, so if you feel this may be a problem for you please discuss with me in the first instance so we can check that you will be able to manage.

This is a personal development programme and you can expect a certain level of individual stretch, challenge and feedback as well as some coaching as part of the group, either explicitly or through guided personal reflection. This reflection, challenge and coaching will take place throughout the programme, both during retreats and in the monthly circle calls.

Many women choose to deepen their experience further by working 1-1 with me in addition to the group work, through the BeWild: Unleashed package. This option includes everything in BeWild PLUS a package of 1-1 coaching sessions. This option is highly recommended and can be discussed more during your BeWild Discovery Call.

Yes, of course! Once you've paid your £500 deposit to secure your place, the remainder can be split over 10 monthly instalments. If however you are able to pay in full, I offer 2 bonus 90 minute 1-1 coaching sessions to say thank you for making my life easier :-)

Yes, of course! Many women who have completed (or are partway through) their BeWild journey have offered to share their perspective on BeWild with anybody who is interested in learning more. If you’re interested, drop me a message and I can connect you with them.

In the meantime, you can check out some videos of BeWild participants sharing some of their highlights and stories over on my YouTube channel here: BeWild: in the words of the participants and some client stories on my website here: Client stories

The short answer is, yes, you can at least register your interest for next intake, however I encourage you to think about why you think you’re not ready….. Here are some reasons you might want to sign up for this intake, now:

• How often have you put things off until you (think you’ll) feel ready, and they never happen? You’re not alone! The thing is, I believe we’ll never feel truly ready for the things that are actually going to make the biggest difference in our lives…because they are calling us to step up in ways we haven’t before…and it’s that stepping up that makes the difference. One of my favourite quotes is “if you wait until you’re ready, you’ll be waiting the rest of your life”. Why delay embarking on a journey if you know it’s going to make such a difference to your life?

• Price. The price for this programme is set in July each year, for the following year. A lot has happened in the world(!) since this year’s price was set and it will almost certainly have to go up next year!

• Are you interested in learning to work with women/run retreats out in nature yourself? Or potentially even work towards being involved with Wildfire in some way (for example potentially running retreats under the Wildfire brand)? I am developing a training programme for women who want to do just that, and having been through BeWild will be a key requisite if you want the opportunity to apply to work with me in that capacity in the future. By completing BeWild this year, you could be in the very first cohort of Wildfire trainees!

• If you need space to breathe, to switch off, to be supported and to reconnect to that woman inside who has perhaps gotten lost along the way, please don’t wait another year. YOU deserve to make yourself a priority. I promise you, investing time and money in YOU will be one of the best investments you ever make.