Our Programmes

Hawkwood's Climate Action Lab is a vibrant online event dedicated to driving sustainable change through food, farming, and nature. It empowers communities to reimagine food systems, connecting regenerative agriculture with climate resilience. The online conference will include talks from food producers, wildlife experts and policy makers. Rooted in nature, it encourages ecological stewardship and will provide helpful advice on action that you can take. This conference has been made possible through the generous support of Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL), Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs, Cotswolds National Landscape.

An 8-week online course. A panpsychic view starts from the understanding that all things, including the Earth itself, are integral to the fabric of the living cosmos, all of the same sentient cloth. Mind is a fundamental aspect of matter just as matter is a fundamental aspect of mind: we are part of a world that has depth as well as structure, meaning as well as form. In Thomas Berry’s words, this is a community of subjects, not a collection of objects. During this 8 week online course, we will explore this perspective through a co-operative inquiry with Rivers in the vicinity of participants: if we invoke their living presence, address them as subjective persons, what manner of response might we receive? Rivers may include everything from mountain torrents through mature watercourses to tidal reaches; underground flows, wild streams or industrialised waterways. Please scroll down for a more in depth course description.

Best known for his 8,000-mile walk for peace, former monk, activist, author and educator Satish Kumar has been inspiring global change for nearly 70 years. Between his home in the south of England and an experience returning to India, the documentary Radical Love portrays his impressive journey, presenting a collection of vivid projections of what can be accomplished when our presence in the world is filled with the powers of simplicity, collaboration and love.

Forest Bathing (Shinrin Yoku) is a gentle, nature-based therapeutic practice developed in Japan during the 1980's to help reduce stress and improve mental and physical wellbeing. Although Shinrin Yoku is translated as “forest bathing”, there is no water involved, the term rather describing a state of becoming fully immersed in the forest atmosphere through awareness, observation and meditation.

Finding the Words for the Journey: How Travel and Nature can be turned into Prose. On this five-day residential course, tutors Nick Hunt and Joanna Pocock will introduce you to travel and nature writing. You will learn how to develop your experiences and observations of journeying in the world into engaging pieces of prose. The tutors will use practical exercises, focused writing assignments and workshopping as they help you develop and structure your writing. Our mid-week guest speaker is the 2024 Wainwright Prize Winner, Michael Malay.

The UK government has set out a mission to achieve a fully decarbonised power system by 2030, with a commitment to double onshore wind, triple solar power and quadruple offshore wind capacity. This will require constructing extensive new renewable energy and grid infrastructure to power businesses and homes, but how can we do this while protecting nature, landscapes, and communities’ right to have a say? How can we make sure that we take communities with us and balance the use of land needed for energy infrastructure with that needed for farming, housing, climate solutions and nature’s recovery. This event is in partnership with the CPRE, The Wildlife Trusts and will be streamed as part of The Wildlife Trust's "Wild LIVE" series.

Join Satish Kumar for a transformative journey, exploring the essence of love in all areas of life. Discover how love, like gravity, holds together our relationships and grounds our actions. Through guided discussions, meditations, and Qi Gong with June Mitchell, this course invites you to cultivate self-love, compassion for others, and a deep connection to nature. Together, we’ll ask: How can love inspire our politics, business, science and all the other activities in life? Guided by Satish’s philosophy of Radical Love and June’s mindfulness practices, you’ll leave with insights and tools to live with purpose and presence. On this weekend participants will also spend time in the tranquil surroundings of Hawkwood and discover how radical love can bring joy in life.

Understanding human consciousness as a component of the ecological process, we will seek to inspire a creative response to the seasonal cycle. Participants will explore the connection between nature, human nature, and the quest for authenticity. Integrating ecological principles, ritual, and myth participants will develop a deeper awareness of the significance of time and place. We will engage with the land as an integral part of the ecosystem as we experience, through our physiological and psychological responses, the unfolding season.

Come and join Dee Aebischer, a qualified guide with the UK Forest Bathing Institute, who holds a Masters & PhD in Forest Science, as she leads you on a journey of discovery through the art of Forest Bathing (also known as Shinrin Yoku). This gentle, nature-based therapeutic practice was developed in Japan during the 1980s, with the purpose of reducing stress and enhancing mental and physical wellbeing. Although Shinrin Yoku is translated as “forest bathing”, there is no water involved, the term rather describes a state of becoming fully immersed in the forest atmosphere through awareness, observation and meditation.

Inspire and unleash your radical imagination. Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition movement and author of ‘From What If to What Next’, will lead you on a deep dive into the radical imagination, guiding you on how to harness its power to transform your work and meet the challenges of today.

How can we bring people together to engage with the challenges facing our communities? How can we ask questions creatively to encourage meaningful dialogue? What skills, resources and capacities do people already have that can be built upon? The Art of Invitation training offers new creative tools for change to equip artists, groups, communities and organisations to engage in the ecological, cultural and social challenges of our time. Register your interest now, bookings for this course will open soon.

This experience weekend invites participants to deepen their connection with the earth through hands-on, nature-based activities and ecological learning. Set in the scenic landscape of Hawkwood's estate, the immersive retreat explores sustainable land practices, regenerative agriculture, and environmental stewardship. Through guided workshops, nature walks, and practical sessions, participants gain insights into nurturing both the land and their relationship with it, leaving them inspired to take meaningful steps towards ecological care and sustainability. Register your interest now, bookings for this course will open soon.

Come and join Dee Aebischer, a qualified guide with the UK Forest Bathing Institute, who holds a Masters & PhD in Forest Science, as she leads you on a journey of discovery through the art of Forest Bathing (also known as Shinrin Yoku). This gentle, nature-based therapeutic practice was developed in Japan during the 1980s, with the purpose of reducing stress and enhancing mental and physical wellbeing. Although Shinrin Yoku is translated as “forest bathing”, there is no water involved, the term rather describes a state of becoming fully immersed in the forest atmosphere through awareness, observation and meditation.

Using experiential practices, ritual, and myth Jennifer and Mark will show how the principles of deep ecology can be aligned to our personal journey of growth and self-discovery. Understanding human consciousness as a component of the ecological process, we will seek to inspire a creative response to the energy of the seasonal cycle. Participants will have an opportunity to explore the connection between nature, human nature, and the quest for authenticity and meaning in their lives.

The Ecological Skills Summer Camp at Hawkwood is an immersive, hands-on programme designed to equip participants with the practical knowledge and tools needed to live more sustainably and harmoniously with nature. Set within the stunning landscape of Hawkwood's eco-friendly estate, this summer camp offers a unique opportunity to learn through engaging workshops, outdoor activities, and community collaboration. Participants will explore a wide range of topics, including permaculture design, natural building, renewable energy systems, foraging, and wildlife conservation. Register your interest now, bookings for this course will open soon.

Poetry, Cosmology, Interconnectedness, and Democracy. In challenging times we need the illuminating sustenance of soulful creativity within a meaningful context. This course will celebrate and cultivate our imaginative capacities - from arranging a poem, to crafting a life path, to building community, to transforming society - imagination is foundational. The poetic impulse within us dreams new realities into existence.

How we farm, fish and eat impacts on our ecosystems and all life on planet Earth. Everyday food decisions can be a powerful force for positive change. This pioneering ecological arts and culinary Research Residency between Living Justice and Greencuisine Trust explores how, as food citizens, we co-create just, restorative and whole-health nature cultures.

How to find hope across the landscape of time. How can we become good ancestors? How can reinventing our relationship with time be a source of hope and inspiration for personal and social change? These are the questions you will be exploring in this one-day course with social philosopher and internationally bestselling author Roman Krznaric. You’ll be taking journeys into both the past and future to open your imagination to new ways of organising our politics, economies and community life, revealing possibilities for hope in our turbulent times.

Come and join Dee Aebischer, a qualified guide with the UK Forest Bathing Institute, who holds a Masters & PhD in Forest Science, as she leads you on a journey of discovery through the art of Forest Bathing (also known as Shinrin Yoku). This gentle, nature-based therapeutic practice was developed in Japan during the 1980s, with the purpose of reducing stress and enhancing mental and physical wellbeing. Although Shinrin Yoku is translated as “forest bathing”, there is no water involved, the term rather describes a state of becoming fully immersed in the forest atmosphere through awareness, observation and meditation.

Tools and Practices for Delivery This unique course invites decision-makers, lawmakers and leaders from across the globe to ensure future generations are at the heart of all that we do. Join Jane Davidson and special guests in a co-exploration of planning for a better future and the long-term wellbeing of current generations and those yet to come.

Understanding human consciousness as a component of the ecological process, we will seek to inspire a creative response to the seasonal cycle. Participants will explore the connection between nature, human nature, and the quest for authenticity. Integrating ecological principles, ritual, and myth participants will develop a deeper awareness of the significance of time and place. We will engage with the land as an integral part of the ecosystem as we experience, through our physiological and psychological responses, the unfolding season.

Learn from expert mushroom growers, Slad Valley Mushrooms, on how to grow your own fungi at home. Full of practical advice, insights into health benefits, and other marvels of mycelium.

Come and join Dee Aebischer, a qualified guide with the UK Forest Bathing Institute, who holds a Masters & PhD in Forest Science, as she leads you on a journey of discovery through the art of Forest Bathing (also known as Shinrin Yoku). This gentle, nature-based therapeutic practice was developed in Japan during the 1980s, with the purpose of reducing stress and enhancing mental and physical wellbeing. Although Shinrin Yoku is translated as “forest bathing”, there is no water involved, the term rather describes a state of becoming fully immersed in the forest atmosphere through awareness, observation and meditation.