Wilding Day retreat - Winter

Join us at the world famous Knepp rewilding estate, for a rejuvenating and immersive retreat crafted exclusively for coaches, therapists and leaders

Retreat and Recover – our winter event

A day to remember

Set amidst a breathtakingly beautiful landscape, this experience invites you to step away from the everyday this season, reconnect with your inner self, forge meaningful connections with others, and deepen your bond with the natural world.

Guiding your experience are Karen Liebenguth, a coach and mindfulness expert, and James Farrell, a coach and environmentalist. Together, they will create a unique program inspired by the wildlife, landscapes, and seasonal flavors of this remarkable setting.

Our seasonal theme

This is our winter retreat. The theme for this season is 'Retreat and recover', and we will be capturing the rest, storage and starkly beautiful landscapes of winter throughout our day together.

What to Expect

Join us for a day that nourishes the soul and rekindles our connection to the earth, our self, our work, and each other.

This is an opportunity to:

• Time and space for yourself, far from screens and daily busyness
• Reflect on what truly matters in your life and work
• Deepen your personal connection with Nature
• Enriching mindfulness and nature-connection practices
• Experience the power and promise of rewilding, seeing land and wildlife restored firsthand
• Make new connections with like-minded people

This is not:

• A business workshop (though you’ll have the chance to network in good company)!
• A spa day (although there may be an opportunity for a refreshing lake swim)!
• A day of slides and screens (we’ll be mainly outdoors, fully engaged in the natural surroundings)

About our venue

Knepp offers an inspiring model for a new approach to land management—one that embraces the power of natural processes over strict targets and micro-management. A beacon of hope in a world facing biodiversity loss, Knepp demonstrates the immense possibilities for Nature’s recovery and regeneration.

For our Wilding Day, we’ll be based at The Cow Barn, a restored 16th Century venue which is peaceful and private space, situated close to pathways winding through Knepp’s breathtaking estate. There is a wood fire, comfortable seating, and a communal dining table. Free parking is available.

Surrounded by ancient oaks, diverse shrubland, gentle waterways, and a thriving community of wildlife—including the 'Knepp Big Five': white storks, fallow deer, longhorn cattle, Tamworth pigs, and Exmoor ponies. We’ll immerse ourselves in this rejuvenating environment.

In winter you may see the arrival of wintering wildfowl such as ducks and geese. The rich tapestry created by fallen leaves, and networks of branches laid bare against the sky. You may see the storks that were the first to establish at Knepp, and now stay all year round.

Throughout the day, enjoy tea and coffee, as well as a delicious organic ‘no-plough’ lunch, sourced directly from Knepp’s own market garden.

To top it all off - a very special evening!

For a truly unique experience at the end of the day, join us for a two-course Chef's dinner at the Knepp Wilding Kitchen. The chef will share the farm-to-plate story behind each dish, giving us time in a beautiful dining room to savour and connect as the day winds down.

This is a bespoke offer for our group - places are limited, and are offered to you at a special rate by Knepp. We believe this is a fabulous way to top off a very special day and hope you will join us.

Testimonials

This mindful, insightful, energising and revealing day retreat from Karen and James was spectacular. Stunning venue, wonderful individuals and wise reflective practices led by superb experts. I learned a lot about myself, or more accurately rediscovered. The power and significance of reflective work in nature cannot be overrated - it’s like self-development turbo-charged, but calmer…

A meaningful day in a deep-seated environment that offers so much to an individual willing to listen. Top that with Karen’s and James’  expertise, compassion and love of nature and a beautiful day is born. And meeting other individuals like yourself, and yet very different, adds further to what you get out of the day. This is a wonderful gift you can give to yourself.

Today was a fantastic opportunity to really connect: with the environment around us, with myself, with other inspiring minds. Such rich stories were shared, as we were meandering in the landscape.

James and Karen created a wonderful day in nature where we connected to  our ‘selves’ and others. A really restorative experience. Thank you.

Today has been nourishing and restorative. So wonderful to be in the company of like-minded people in such an inspirational place. Karen and James created a very special space for reflection, learning and curiosity. It was just what I needed.

About your guides

James Farrell

James is a professional coach and chartered environmentalist, whose practice is grounded in leadership and in Nature. He has worked in the environment sector for over 30 years, in roles including executive leadership, business management, operations, partnerships and policy.

At The Natural Coaching Company, James coaches leaders through major transitions. He specialises in working with his clients in partnership with Nature, in a process he calls ‘Nature Based Coaching’. He is also a qualified mental health coach, and accredited ADHD coach.

At The Human Nature Partnership, James helps public and private sector organisations become more nature-connected, integrating Nature into their business, employee and community outcomes.

James is also a TEDx speaker, writer, and author of ‘Being in Nature, 20 practices to help you flourish in a busy world’. He is leader of a new course for coaches in 'Nature Based Coaching Skills', with live online sessions beginning April 2025.

www.naturalcoachingcompany.com

www.humannaturepartnership.com

Karen Liebenguth

Karen coaches ethical leaders — people who care about the environment and other people — helping them to grow their confidence and make their life more meaningful. Her speciality is coaching clients outdoors, walking side by side through green spaces.

Karen brings a mindful, creative and highly personable approach to her work with corporate, public and charitable businesses across London, helping to develop a compassionate and effective culture, online and in-person.

Karen trained in transpersonal coaching, eco-psychology, mindfulness & compassion practices and restorative facilitation for repairing relationships.

Karen is German and has lived in London for 23 years. Spending time in nature has been an integral part of her life as well as practising mindfulness and meditation. Karen’s work extends to teaching at the London Buddhist Centre and to regularly co-leading retreats.

www.parcival.co.uk

Our charity partner

We are proud to be partnering with Knepp Wildland Foundation - a charity which is working to galvanise nature recovery across Sussex.

A share of profits from our retreats will go towards the Foundation's work to

• recover the landscapes from the Weald to the Waves of the Sussex coast, restoring rivers and greenspaces in partnership with landowners
• share the knowledge and evidence generated from rewilding at Knepp with a wide audience
• investing in multidisciplinary training, research and employment opportunities for 16-25 year olds.

Event publicity photographs by James Farrell, Steer Photographic, Matt Ellery, Christoph Moning, Knepp Wildland Foundation