Wild Botanica
14 - 19 June 2024
Our last summer retreat Wild Botanica, is a 6-day course in sustainable floral artistry and nature connection with an intimate group of nature-loving women. This program will guide you through the techniques of working with foraged, dried, and organic flowers, offering an in-depth exploration of the craft. Set in serene fields and meadows, this retreat provides an opportunity to disconnect from daily life and focus on developing your skills as a floral artist. We will be guided through the meadows by the Meadowsweet family, as well as guest hosts, florist Hayley Scott and painter Harlie Briggs. sharing their extensive knowledge and experience.
Join us to enhance your creativity and celebrate the magic of flowers this summer.
Embark on an enriching journey at Wild Botanica: A Comprehensive Course in Sustainable Floral Artistry, where you'll master the art of crafting ethereal flower crowns, enchanting wreaths, captivating wild bouquets, and eco-friendly vessel displays, while delving into the intricacies of installation art amidst the breathtaking Tuscan backdrop.
What to expect?
Experience a 5-Night, 6-Day Journey into Sustainable Floral Artistry and Nature Connection
Grounding tea ceremonies with wild plants
Crystal bowl sound healing to harmonize body, mind, and soul
Start each day with morning movement and guided meditation
Learn to craft dried flower wreaths, flower crowns, and wild bouquets
Engage in creating installation art, such as wild arches or overhead displays
Enhance your wreaths and arrangements with plant-dyed ribbons and pressed flower art
Learn to make your own floral frogs as an alternative to harmful foam
Join foraging expeditions to discover wild medicinal Tuscan flowers for flower essences
Nature honouring rituals to deepen your connection with the earth
Wild swimming in crystal clear mountain springs
Optional candlelit woodfire saunas for relaxation and detoxification
Singing and connection workshops to bond with other like-minded women
Meet your hosts
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Amanda, affectionately known as "The Wild Tea Lady," brings over 30 years of rich experience in foraging, tea making with wild plants, and intuitive herbalism. With a deep, heartfelt connection to nature, Amanda has devoted her life to understanding and honoring the wisdom of the plants that surround us. Her passion and expertise have guided countless individuals on a journey to reconnect with the earth’s bountiful gifts.
In this retreat, Amanda invites you to join her in the beautiful ritual of making flower essences. With her gentle guidance, you will learn to capture the spirit of the plants, honoring their essence in a way that is both respectful and profoundly enriching. Through her teachings, Amanda fosters a deep appreciation for the delicate art of creating these powerful botanical elixirs, imbuing each moment with a sense of wonder and reverence for the natural world.
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Harlie Briggs is a London-born nature and figure artist known for her intuitive, abstract paintings that vividly explore color, emotion, and nature. With a profound love for the great outdoors, Harlie’s work beautifully transforms the natural world into expressive art, particularly focusing on flowers and seasonal changes. Her paintings capture the essence of the landscapes she immerses herself in, creating a serene and calming effect that she hopes to impart to her audience.
In this retreat, Harlie will be leading a painting class centered on the beauty and diversity of flowers. Drawing from her extensive experience and deep connection to nature, she will guide participants in creating their own abstract floral paintings. Harlie's unique approach to capturing the tranquility and vibrant energy of flowers will inspire you to explore your own creativity and expressiveness. Through this class, she aims to help others find contentment and positive feelings, mirroring the calmness found in nature.
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Phoebe Maria is a multifaceted healer and artist, known for her roles as a sound healer, yoga teacher, female empowerment photographer, singing coach, and ceremonialist. With six years of dedicated work with indigenous communities in South America, Phoebe has honed her skills in sharing the profound gift of music in nature and ceremony. Her deep connection to these ancient traditions and her vibrant, soulful approach create transformative experiences for all who work with her.
In this retreat, Phoebe will guide our minds, bodies, and spirits through a harmonious blend of movement, sound, and ceremony. Drawing inspiration from the wild flowers, she will lead us in a journey that intertwines the beauty of nature with the healing power of music and ritual. Through her gentle yet powerful guidance, Phoebe invites us to explore and embrace our inner landscapes, fostering a deeper connection to ourselves and the natural world.
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Anya Lily, the visionary founder of Meadowsweet Retreat, is a passionate flower grower, gardener chef, and floral artist with a deep love for the art of drying and preserving flowers through pressing and hanging. Her dedication to sustainable practices and natural beauty shines through in every aspect of her work.
At this retreat, Anya, alongside a talented florist, will share her extensive knowledge and creative flair in a series of immersive workshops. Participants will learn the intricate art of wreath making, vase arrangements, and tablescapes, as well as how to craft their own floristry frog using natural materials. Anya will also guide attendees in the delicate process of natural dyeing with flowers, offering a wealth of tips to enhance floral artistry with a focus on sustainability and nature's bounty. Her workshops promise to inspire and elevate your floral creations, blending artistry with eco-conscious practices.
What’s Included?
5 nights luxury accommodation at a beautiful 2000 hectare nature reserve in Tuscany
Full board of plant based meals, homemade snacks & healing beverages cooked by our resident chef
Daily floral artistry workshops
Wildcrafting workshops using natural dyeing and hand built ceramics
Morning meditation, guided breath work, movement and yoga in an 8m Mongolian yurt
Nature hikes and wild swimming (rainfall dependant)
Daily sharing circles and earth honouring rituals
Herbalism and wild medicine making with the Wild Tea Lady
Free time to enjoy the land and dip in the salt water infinity pool
Wood fire sauna in the forest
Evening music, crystal bowl sound healing and mid summer celebrations
A Meadowsweet gift or two
Not included: Airfare, transportation outside of that listed in the trip itinerary, alcoholic drinks, massages, gratuities for drivers and staff
Your investment
Standard accommodation is based upon shared twin rooms with another person joining the retreat, however if you prefer your privacy there are various rates for your own double room or the Fig Tree Cottage, with its own living room and kitchen.
Come embrace the art of floral design within a community of like-minded creatives passionate about flowers. Regardless of gender, our retreat provides double rooms and a cozy private cottage for those attending as couples or friends. Dive into an unforgettable summer experience dedicated to immersing yourself in nature, exploring sustainable methods, and savoring delicious farm to table cuisine—a journey sure to deepen your knowledge of the floral world.
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Light spacious twin rooms with their own private ensuite bathrooms with rain shower. You’ll be sharing with another guest of the same gender on the retreat.
£2000
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Light spacious double room with a beautiful floor to ceiling window overlooking the forest with a shared ensuite bathroom with rain shower and bathtub.
Olive Tree is a 5 minute walk from the main retreat house with views over the vineyards.
Standard Pricing after January 1st £2500
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Light spacious twin rooms with a shared ensuite bathroom with rain shower and bathtub. You’ll be sharing with another guest of the same gender on the retreat.
Olive Tree is a 5 minute walk from the main retreat house with views over the vineyards.
£1900
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Fig Tree cottage is nestled next to the retreat house and the nature reserve. It has it’s own private living room, kitchenette and king size bedroom with ensuite bathroom. Fig Tree is a retreat within the retreat.
£2800
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Beautiful private double rooms with their own private ensuite bathrooms with rain shower.
Each room is designed uniquely with panoramic views over the valley and vineyards.
£2600-2800
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Discover rustic charm in our bell tents, nestled in the meadow or on the retreat house lawn. Shared with another guest, each tent features wooden bed bases, cozy mattresses, carpets, and storage. Shared bathroom access in the retreat house. £1500
If you would like to share any of these private rooms with a partner, family or friends you will be charged an additional £850 per person.
All prices are in £ GBP
FAQ
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Meadowsweet will organise a shared minibus to and from Pisa airport for at 1pm on the arrival day of the retreat and departing the villa at 11am on the final day of the retreat. Transfers are £75 per person and the journey takes just under 2 hours.
If you require a private taxi from Pisa or Florence airport at another time we can assist in booking a driver for you for £150.
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if you have not organised a payment plan, we require you to pay the full amount upfront to secure your spot.
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We are able to offer payment plans, please e-mail us to find out more. As our retreats are small and intimate, every spot on the retreat is incredibly important to us so please book with intention to make it.
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Refunds for the remaining amount depends on when we receive the cancellation. Should you need to cancel with more than 6 weeks until the retreat date, we charge a £250 cancellation fee and you will be refunded the remainder of your payment. Should you need to cancel between 6 and 2 weeks of the retreat date, you will forfeit the £500. Finally, under no circumstance will there be any refunds given for cancellation requests made within 2 weeks of the retreat date.
*Due to current COVID restrictions and the unpredictability of what the next months will hold, we will continuously monitor the COVID situation in the Italy. Should we have to cancel the retreat, we will notify you as soon as possible and issue a full refund.
**All guests must obtain their own medical insurance before attending Meadowsweet Retreat as we are in a very wild location with mountainous terrain and there is the possibility of seeing snakes.