Five black women jumped at the chance to go camping together for a long weekend in Hamsterley Forest. The majority wouldn’t have been able to do this without the support of Earth Sea Love through the funding received from National Lottery Heritage Funding. The women did not have the outdoor and camping equipment and gear to do this by themselves. We appreciate the support from Forestry England through making Hamsterley Forest available for this retreat.
Setting up camp on Saturday afternoon, the women gathered and connected.over food, walking, cold water plunging, and visual journaling. The opportunity to drop out of time and to appreciate the retreat away from society’s noise into the sounds and experiences of nature was the catalyst for changes that the women craved. This will now become an annual offering from Earth Sea Love.
Walking, forest bathing, trees and flowers identification, visual journaling through guidance and new found knowledge. the women were able to became safe and comfortable being out in nature together. There was a collective sigh of relief and healing as the women took up creative space for themselves and each other with the trees.
There is a clear demand for more spaces like this but finances are always an issue.
WORDS COLLECTED AFTER THE TIME AWAY:
CALM, RE-CENTRED, SUPPORTED, REINVIGORATED, CAMARADERIE, BLESSING, GRATITUDE, COMMUNITY, BE MYSELF, LAUGHTER, LINGER
