Below is information you need to read about -sections are ‘Catered Meals’, ‘Special diets’ (if booked or you dont know which dietary option to book), ‘Non-Catered meals for this course’, ‘Bed and breakfast Accommodation’ (if booked), ‘What to Bring’ & ‘Preliminary details’ about the weekend
You must also read the information given via links on your course booking confirmation pdf and make sure you print directions to the venue (link in pdf)
Catered Meals
Eating together is an enjoyable way to relax & meet in a different way than we do in the circle. It supports our explorations to have some meals prepared for us. Your catering payment is mandatory. It covers all refreshments during the day & evenings, plus Saturday supper and Sunday lunch. There are 3 options – a meat/fish option, a vegetarian option or a special diet option (see note below) and you need to choose one from the drop down box above. The food is nourishing, tasty and plentiful, and organic to a large extent. The desserts are yummy. Catered lunches consist of vegan soups and vegan or vegetarian salads. The caterer also provides cheeses, perhaps sometimes hummous, eggs, or beef slices, plus salads, ricecakes, oatcakes and bread, fruit and cake.
Special diets
If you have a real need for a special diet, you must select that option from the drop down box above AND detail a) What your allergy is, and b) Exactly what you cannot eat as a result. We will then be aware of your dietary needs & will pass these to the centre or non-residential event caterer. Please note your health is always your own responsibility. if you do not book this option and provide this information, you will have an ordinary meat or veggie meal ordered for you
Non-catered meals for this course
We bring food to share on Saturday lunchtime. Everyone contributes to clearing up etc
Bed and breakfast Accommodation
Informal accommodation for this non-residential course, is available, on a friendship basis, for Saturday evening only, at our beautiful, peaceful home in England’s largest designated area of outstanding beauty. If you would like to stay overnight with us and many of the group participants, & enjoy self-serve breakfast, & the hot tub with its spectacular views, please select one of the options available in the drop down box above. Please note if you are a couple or 2 friends attending together (one of whom is new to Secret Garden), you must book your course places and your accommodation options separately and pay separately, and you can both claim the friend discount. We have a dog and two cats so do make sure you are happy with that before booking. We need to know well in advance if you want this- first come, first served! You confirm your place (places strictly limited) with your payment. It’s an easy 90 minute drive from London, 40 minutes from Bristol, 20 minutes from Cheltenham. There is a regular train service to Stroud from London , Bristol, Bath and elsewhere and an easy taxi journey from Stroud. Full directions given after booking.
The Valley has never been intensively farmed, sprayed or built on. It is rare limestone grassland habitat and its ancient beechwoods have rich flora & abundant wildlife. The hillsides and the woodlands you can walk are known for many different types of wild orchid and lots of badgers & deer. The Valley is a place of natural abundance & strong, healing energy and is acclaimed for it exceptional beauty.
Each option – shared Dorm accommodation on soft mats, twin room on soft mats, single room with bed or single room with mats, camper van and camping (bring own gear) – is available until fully booked -please select your choice above as they go fast. That option is fully booked if it isn’t displayed or says out of stock. Unless you have a bed option, you will need to bring your own bedding, sleeping bag or sheets. If travelling by train or bus, let us know and we can lend you a duvet and pillow but please bring sheets and pillow cases if possible. All options include use of hot tub, hot indoor and outdoor showers and all sitting rooms.
The breakfast kitchen at Mayfaire is vegetarian. Your bed and breakfast fee includes a plentiful self-serve informal breakfast. We don’t provide special diet meals but we do provide in addition to the usual breakfast foods, rice and soya milk, soya yoghurt, cornflakes (gluten free), porridge (wheat free), organic baked beans, herb teas, oat & rice cakes. Do please bring any other special diet ‘extras’ you might need in a cool bag. if you need to supplement your diet with meat or tinned fish, please bring that with you.
There is a fridge at Mayfaire & at the day venues we use, but cool bags are helpful to store some items. If you have an allergy, the responsibility for keeping yourself safe & well lies with you.
A note about personal responsibility – it is an ongoing experiment for us holding a group & living communally at Mayfaire with those who value this way of being. . We ask for your trust and care and flexibility, no complaining is the deal! Take some time quietly to yourself when you need it, let go of personal preferences for the sake of community and all will flow smoothly. We are exploring consciousness together so please remember and live the Hawaiian principle of lokahi -harmony with one’s environment – at all times.
Enjoy a peaceful, rural retreat & the benefits of being fully with the energy of the group. We get fabulous feedback from those who stay here. This is very much community living and guests find it enhances their overall experience to stay with us and many of the group. There is lots of laughter! and it is good and sweet in many ways to hang out in an informal way, enjoy the hot tub and beautiful countryside in free time. We ask you to be mindful that this is our home and to please take care of it as though it were your own.
We cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage or injury whilst you are at Mayfaire. Please take care of your own well being & safety, you learn & stay here informally as friends, at your own risk. We are sorry but we cannot refund b and b payment if you change your mind, or your own childcare arrangements etc go askew as it takes an extraordinary amount of time to organize and set up and once we are full we have to turn others away. In sudden, extreme change of circumstances such as serious family illness only we will set your payment against a future booking with pleasure at our discretion.
You are very welcome to stay with us in this idyllic valley if you can respect & understand the requests & guidelines provided on your arrival, which are similar to those of a retreat centre and designed for the enjoyment of all of us. Assistants are available to clarify any questions.
We love to share our home and the blessings of living here, in this beautiful area, with you all and welcome you!
Wishing you a safe and pleasant journey to the beautiful countryside of Gloucestershire and a peaceful, happy time til then.
Aloha,
Joy, (Tim, who will not be apparent until Sunday lunch when we meet the men!), Goldie, Tiger and Beauty
What to Bring
| Torch |
| Plenty of bottled water or a water bottle. To be filled prior to the start of sessions. |
| Notebook and pen |
| Bring your own plate, bowl, mug and cutlery to Mayfaire |
| Bring lunch food to share Sat lunch |
| If you wish, a small cushion or blanket to sit on. for meditation (these are not provided) |
| If staying overnight at Mayfaire, it is essential to bring your bedding (unless in the one of 3 rooms with a bed (only the attic, downstairs single & downstairs double) – duvet, pillow, covers, plus a camp bed or thick matting if desired for extra comfort . A soft mat is provided. Also a bath towel, a torch, any medical items needed, & a blindfold are helpful if staying overnight |
| Waterproof jacket and warm sweaters and outdoor walking shoes – There is likely to be time outdoors if weather is good. |
| Thick socks or slippers – for indoors (no outdoor shoes inside venue please). |
| Towel for bathing plus extra sheet or bath towel to cover mats during massage if this happens |
| Massage oil – see note in course confirmation pdf* |
| a sarong or other loose clothing suitable when working with oil |
| Bring swimwear if desired, though naked is fine, and extra bath towel if using hot tub |
| Optional – Drums & other Musical Instruments can be fun during breaks. |
| Optional – hot water bottle, extra blanket, extra snacks if desired |
Preliminary details about the weekend
Below is an example of a non-residential rough plan which shows you how the days behind the scenes of your course will unfold. You also need to know other specifics given via the webiste links in the course booking confirmation pdf. This is sent by return when you book
*For the asterisked meals you need to bring your own plate, bowl, mug, knife, fork, & spoon
| Friday | No b & b on Fri eve | ||||||
| Saturday | Circle starts approx 10 30am at Mayfaire (check website event details at www.secretgarden/events) | Coffee break mid morning Tea break mid afternoon | Bring food for shared Lunch* at approx 1 15pm | Afternoon Coffee and tea break approx 4 30pm Day circle closes approx. 5 45pm | At Mayfaire Dinner 7pm- 8.30pm – Outside Caterer *8 30pm Evening Circle at Mayfaire for all participants Close 9 30pm | Mayfaire B&B* if you have booked to stay at Mayfaire on Sat night |
| Sunday | Breakfast at Mayfaire * 7 45am-9.00am if b & b booked | Day Circle starts approx 10 00am at Mayfaire | Coffee break mid morning Tea break mid afternoon | Approx 1 15 pm Catered Lunch* | Circle closes approx 3 45pm-4pm on Sunday. | No Sun supper or b & b on Sun eve |
