About this Event
Stories can change the world for the better. Words that come from a bond with place, and a sense of reciprocity with the land, are shaping campaigns and fuelling movements to help nature thrive again. Writers and artists are driving much of this work, offering interpretations of the ecological crisis we are facing that offer hope and space to commit to small (and not so small) acts of healing. This work needs to be nurtured and the creative changemakers at the forefront of these campaigns deserve space to recharge. Activists and creatives are invited to spend a relaxed and inspiring weekend on Dartmoor incubating ideas with like-minded folk and connecting deeply with the land.
After the huge success of the Dartmoor Preservation's Wild Words project, which invited people with a connection to Dartmoor to share their words inspired by the land, Moorland Guides are delighted to partner with the DPA to offer a not-for-profit creative retreat. The vision is that this will compliment the Wild Words magazine, published by the DPA every other year, with the retreat offering a space to sow the seeds of ideas that may mature in time for the next publication.
Join Helen and Hannah at the beautiful Karuna retreat centre just outside of Widecombe-in-the-moor on Friday 9th October 2026 for a weekend of nature connection, fellowship with like-minded folk and rejuvenation in the heart of the moors. We’ll be taking to the land to partake in sacred map making, will be guided by The Dartmoor Herbalist in a session looking at archaeobotany and will whittle our own greenwood knives. We will be treated to delicious, home cooked meals and all bedding will be provided, in warm, shared bedrooms.
The weekend will be well balanced with time to rest and time to gather and we will be holding a space that fosters nature connection, the incubation of ideas and facilitates rejuvenation for those who have been working to protect the precious landscapes around us and for those who use creative outlets to process and digest life.
Event venue & nearby stays
Karuna Dartmoor, Natsworthy Manor, Newton Abbot, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.