Retreat, Relax, Reset
Go on, retreat yourself!
A series of women centred leadership retreats amidst nature, focusing on love, connection, and growth.
Glen Farm
Glen Farm has been my family home for nearly 50 years - set in around 2 acres of woodland and gardens. It’s a small holding with pet pigs, chickens and loads of trees (fruit and otherwise). A five minute walk up the road and you’re in fields. Down the road into the village and you’re at a lakes nature reserve.
Nestled amidst ancient woodland, Glen Farm is a haven designed to nurture both body and mind. The landscape itself exudes a gentle, restorative energy, encouraging visitors to slow down, breathe deeply and reconnect with the natural world. With it's wild areas, wildlife and domestic pets and carefully tended gardens, the farm offers a sense of calm that is both grounding and uplifting.
Alongside these beautiful natural elements are places to have fun. A fire pit with a canopy of twinkling lights, a games room with bar games, pool and darts (and if you fancy it, Karaoke!), a modest private gym and a studio well stocked with DVDs and a projector screen.
What sets Glen Farm apart is not just its beauty, but the intention woven into every corner of the space. From sun-dappled paths to cosy nooks perfect for quiet reflection, the environment is carefully curated to foster presence and genuine connection. Whether you're basking in the birdsong at dawn or gathering around the fire pit at night, Glen Farm invites you to experience a profound sense of belonging and renewal.
Upcoming Retreats
500 British pounds
350 British pounds
400 British pounds
I am delighted that I can offer three different ways for you to retreat yourself:
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Small unstructured retreats in nature - the only agenda being to relax, reset and refresh through connections with other women
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Small structured retreats with themes and guest speakers
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One to one solo retreats where we spend time together on whatever you want to work on
Accommodation for the group retreats is glamping in a 3, 4 or 5m bell tent, all with beds and cosey furnishings. Great facilities onsite include a large covered fire pit, well equipped games room, onsite gym and a music/’cinema’ video studio. Thus, these are only offered during the summer months.
Accommodation for the solo retreats is a lovely double ensuite bedroom within the farm house. Thus, this is offered all year round.
Creating Empowered Leaders
Why I created this space
I have been a chief executive for 15 years and spent over 30 years working in a predominantly male environment. I’ve witnessed and experienced the impact of being a leader in increasingly challenging times. Money is harder to raise, costs are going up and demand is never sated. The adage of it being ‘lonely at the top’ is oh so true.
Immediately after the first series of locks downs brought on by the pandemic I noticed that friends and colleagues across the not-for-profit sector were needing to take a break, to be able to recharge away from it all. In particular I craved the power of the sisterhood - not just my own friends but the many brilliant women in our extended networks. I started to host small groups of women leaders at my home, Glen Farm. What I repeatedly heard from these fantastic individuals was how healing and peaceful my oasis was.
When I decided to step back from being a CEO myself, I decided to use my space for the benefit of others and started the Glen Farm Awaysis. I have deliberately created three different approaches because we don't all need the same. I believe there is something there for a multitude of different preferences - provided that you want to immerse yourself in nature and the company of the sisterhood.
Philosophy: Presence, connection, leadership, nature
In 2013 I suffered a bout of terrible mental health. I hit rock bottom - I experienced what you might call a ‘breakdown’. But for me it was a break through because it profoundly shifted my thinking, I learnt so much from the experience and whilst it was not something I would wish to repeat I would not forgo the experience for all the money in the world.
During my lowest points I recognised that love was essential to my leadership journey. That love as a leadership tool creates depth and stretch in ways that traditional command and control approaches simply cannot achieve. I became completely committed to bringing love into the leadership space - as a leadership practice to share and deploy on those I lead but also with other leaders to help them renew and refresh.
The healing sounds of nature, along with access to trees and green space, were central to uplifting my spirit and restoring my mental health.
In addition, the bonds forged with other women proved indispensable in navigating the ongoing challenges of leadership. The collective wisdom and empathy shared among us brought light even in the darkest of times.
Testimonials
"Thank you so much for the truly wonderful retreat. It has really raised my confidence and optimism. I have no doubt you're going to make a really meaningful difference to all those lucky enough to work with you. "
Solo retreat client
Reach Out
Get in Touch
We’re excited to connect with you! For inquiries or more information, feel free to reach out to us at any time.
Glen Farm Awaysis offers three different options for you so think about what you want to achieve.
The solo retreats are year round, by mutual agreement and can be built around your needs. Whether you just want a bolt hole in the country with a comfy ensuite room and good, wholesome food, or whether you want to include one to one coaching. The booking price is a guide based on two nights, all food included and an accompanied walk and talk. I can structure the retreat and the price to suit you. So don't let the guide price put you off - get in touch and we can chat.
The structured retreats offer an opportunity to engage in activities, listen to women leaders, come together either with your current friends or those you have yet to make. Believe me, you will come away with connections to others that you cherish, if the women who have experienced Glen Farm Awaysis in the past are anything to go by.
Unstructured retreats are as the name suggests - largely unstructured. This offers you an opportunity to go where the experience takes you. Chat, walk, rest, talk to the animals and each other. Sit and eat together and immerse yourself in the love of sisterhood. Nothing set, no requirements to perform or engage any more than you feel comfortable with.
The structured and unstructured retreats are again over two days and include accommodation and food. There are a selection of 3, 4 and 5m well equipped Bell tents complete with comfortable beds and tasteful soft furnishings. Each Bell tent has its own camping toilet in a separate tent and access to a flushing toilet inside if you prefer. There are also two outside heated showers available for your use. In addition to the Bell tents there is a comfortable collapsible caravan with two sprung mattress double beds, cooker, fridge, hot and cold running water, flushing toilet and seating area.
Sustainability is very important to me. Your food will be sourced, wherever possible, from a local surplus food charity. This means less food waste for the planet, menus dictated by what's available and lower costs for you. I am a vegetarian so most of the menus will be plant based. However I am not averse to cooking meat and many a bacon roll or full English breakfast has been provided!
I like to offer a range of home produce too, where possible. This can include home made jams, juices and eggs. But no bacon as the pigs are definitely part of the family not the food chain. Be aware that as you are sleeping in tents the noises and light from being under canvas will be different from being inside. I provide ear plugs and eye masks for those who don't relish being woken by the dawn chorus or Chas and Dave (the resident Cockrells)
Let me know if you have special dietary requirements so that I can be certain I am able to cater for you - regrettably there may be some needs I cannot meet such as ensuring a completely nut free option for those with significant allergies.
As Glen Farm is a very old and quintessentially English house, that has been extended to over many years, there are a lot of steps and uneven surfaces. If you have any access needs, again please get in touch and we will make every effort to ensure that your needs are accommodated.
Location wise Glen Farm Awaysis has excellent transport links. Flitwick main line station is three miles away and connects south to Brighton and North to Bedford, the Midlands and beyond. Biggleswade and Arlesey Stations are also within a few miles away and offer options to Peterborough, Cambridge, Stevenage and beyond.