Hello Hello!
We are a family that live and love in nature- Maria, Lillo Ayla and Eliya.
We live in intentional community, home educate our children and live as close to nature as we can- We dream of sharing this experience with as many people as possible..and slowly but surely Rewilding the world.
We are a small independent business, with love and care for people and nature at the very heart of what we do.
All our units are off grid and ecologically sustainable;Wood fired, solar powered, biodegradable products and locally sourced/recycled materials.
We believe in a circular economy and endeavour to use The Glade as a platform to support other local businesses: All our hampers are filled with organic local produce and the furniture and pottery we use is made from local craftspeople or upcycled.
We are affiliated with numerous local businesses and many of them use The Glade as a base for their offerings.
We give a percentage of our profits to local woodland conservation projects, The woodland Trust and Treesisters-Planting trees for change.
Lillo and I are both therapists and have held the vision of creating a space where people could use the healing power of nature to nurture themselves back to wellbeing. I am an qualified Art therapist and Ecotherapist and also qualified Celebrant. Lillo is a massage therapist and trained in ABR therapy.
After travelling the world, staying in and working in various eco lodges, helping set up a retreat centre in Bali and then running one in Costa Rica, We felt the strong call to base ourselves near Forest Row in England. There is a very strong alternative culture in this area and we are blessed to have 3 local biodynamic farms and various alternative school options. It was our dream to create a community based business that our children would grow up in, always knowing a sense of belonging, to the land and to the tribe.
We both have over 2 decades of experience in hospitality and are keen travellers, which means we have inside insight as to what creates a unique customer experience and unforgettable holiday.
After our return to the UK, We moved in to a well established, land based community and for a few years ran a small BNB business from our home.
However, when the covid pandemic hit, it became apparent to us that this was no longer sustainable or even possible, so we had to think quickly and creatively.
We had many enquiries from people seeking a different kind of holiday- One immersed in nature, connected to the land and the people, A holiday which resets and refreshes the body, mind and Spirit. One where people felt safe and free to be.
We realised that the unique selling point of our BnB business was the experience of a holistic off grid lifestyle and the connection to creative community, so we wanted to extend our community living experience to offer other the opportunity to witness a different way of living.
The pandemic propelled us into an immediate response, people were desperate for nature connection and human connection.
We realised that our training as therapists, our skills managing and creating retreat spaces, our experience working at festivals and our personal love for wild spa’s, was the perfect combination for us to finally pull all the threads together and offer a respitespace to those in need. And so The Enchanted Glade was born - A beautiful and unique space to rest and reset at a time when people are so longing for space, sanctuary and solace.
Nothing brings us greater delight than sharing this space with YOU.
We look forward to welcoming you and offering you a restful and inspiring holiday.
We LOVE this place so much , we wrote a poem to share with you the joy we feel onsite-
'See the sun set ,and the starlight
The water warm and the steam swirl ,
The owl hoot and the pheasants call.
The moon rise, shining bright.
I breathe and receive it all.
The fire lit, the candlelight,
We’ll sleep under the trees tonight...’
With love,
Maria and family