Rooted in Resilience: A Nature Retreat for Built Environment Professionals

About this event
Press pause. Breathe in nature. Root your personal resilience.
In a world of multiple intersecting crises, sustainability professionals are carrying more than ever. Driving change in these uncertain and unjust times, the constant pressure to know and do more, all while trying to balance your personal life, your health, and your role at work.
Personal resilience isn’t optional; it’s essential to avoiding strain on you and to navigating these challenges effectively.
This retreat offers a vital pause. Placed mid-summer at an (mormally) quieter time at work. A moment to reconnect with yourself, nature, and the reassurance that you are not alone, and at the same time, identify and restore your resilience and continue ready to lead the change our built environment needs.
What to expect and why attend?
This 24-hour immersive and experiential retreat in nature is designed for professionals working to build a more sustainable world – and feeling the weight of it.
You will be guided through four key processes:
Ultimately, leaving you connected with your capacity to meet today’s demands, in your life, and your work, in this world.
Set in a beautiful, secluded 100-acre woodland (near Bridgnorth, Shropshire), the retreat includes:

You’ll leave with enhanced personal readiness, deeper clarity, and renewed energy to lead and thrive through change.
Who should attend?
This retreat is a must for those who feel in need of a reset type experience, targeted at sustainability professionals or other leaders who are trying to make change to a more sustainable built environment.
Why attend?
This retreat is designed to help you navigate today’s challenges in a way that isn’t just a quick fix, but a genuine reconnection with your own capacity to move through them.
You’ll step away from the noise and into nature, guided through a process of reflection and connection where you will:
Who will guide the retreat?
Facilitated by Elfrida Hamilton-Russell (Director of leadership) and Dr Macarena Cárdenas, Senior Advisor, Resilience and Nature, with guest appearance from previous UKGBC CEO Julie Hirigoyen
Logistics details
The course fee covers the full retreat experience, including accommodation, all meals, drinks, refreshments and bedding.
Accommodation: The retreat will be hosted in a secluded woodland retreat surrounded by nature — a peaceful, private space designed to help you unwind, breathe deeply, and fully immerse in the experience. Accommodation options range from traditional camping, to ‘glamping’ in cabins, or farmhouse stays.
All options will be shown upon clicking ‘Tickets’, and are available on a first-come first served basis.
Travelling: Exact address and directions will be provided. For logistical planning, nearest train stations are Wolverhampton and Telford, (30 mins away), and nearest town to the retreat location is Bridgnorth, Shropshire.
Note: this programme can also be delivered for whole teams (8-12 people), please get in touch with learning@ukgbc.org if this is of interest for your organisation.
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