A few weeks ago, the Another Way core team met for the first time in person!
The team had an incredible and transformative experience at 42 Acres in Somerset, a regenerative estate, nature reserve and well-being retreat. 42 Acres is an oasis of calm, a place to disconnect from the world and reconnect with ourselves and each other, whilst appreciating the beautiful grounds and wildlife within them.
The retreat began with a meditation and intention setting circle led by Amy, our founder. This allowed everyone to align their personal goals and expectations for the retreat. Each team member shared their unique skills through short masterclasses over the three days, showcasing the diverse talents within the team! Seaweed pressing, knot tying and how to take the perfect photograph!
The team explored the expansive grounds, discovering a treehouse, lake, boathouse, orchard, and walled garden, where we picked herbs and apples to use over the period of our stay. The team spent a lot of time learning from and about each other, spending as little time using technology as possible in order to connect through common interests and deep topics of conversation.
We started the second day with a yoga class from Amy, followed by a serene wild swim in the lake and then a paddleboard and canoe expedition to explore the lake. There were signs of Beavers all around the lake, and a Kingfisher flew in front of Amy as she swam!
We spent the rest of the day working in smaller teams to create Power of Ten festival stalls, identify and share our personal values and how these related to those of Another Way, and exploring more of the grounds together. A biodiversity challenge was running throughout the retreat, with each team member aiming to identify the biggest variety of species – congratulations Leela with 89 species! The Wasp Spider was something to behold (or not in some cases!).
The last evening was finished off by a firepit circle with stargazing to reflect on the retreat’s experiences.
The retreat fostered deep connections, personal growth and new experiences amongst the team.
‘I tried new foods, went lake swimming, held a moth, and saw the brightest sky I’ve ever seen in my life. The team gave me the confidence to try things that I never would have before!’ – Chloe
And finally, it was lovely to meet the team in person for the first time and be given the space to relax and appreciate everybody. We are such a strong team, with aligned values and passions. I left feeling more connected, inspired, and as though we were all ready to continue our impactful work.
Thank you, Amy, for creating the opportunity for everyone to reconnect with ourselves and connect with each other!
Article by Abi O’Leary
