We’re all about sustainability and habitat preservation at Adhurst. We also happen to really love not having electricity at the yurts – not because we want to make our life difficult but because we all know how wonderful a power cut can be once you’ve lit the candles and boiled tea on the wood burner; we just love the atmospherics of it all. Our turbo-charged electric world smothers all that atmosphere. Adhurst is a place you can get back to your circadian rhythm, enjoy the taste of food cooked on embers and flavoured with wood smoke – Watching the campfire is nature’s tv. It’s also better for your soul and better for your children and better for your pets.
Each month brings a different treat with the seasonal changes. In April there are early-morning guided birdwalks to identify all those birds building their nests. And sometimes lambing! Fly fishing is amazing as you can actually spot the mayflies and see the trout jumping up to eat them in mid-air. You just have to sit quietly and wait. In May there’s a blanket of bluebells bringing a technicolour streak to nature. It’s also when the pick-your-own farm have their glut of asparagus – perfect for grilling on the bbq. In June try an omelette with foraged garlic ransomes and their delicate white flowers. June is also the month for strawberry picking – and lots of other berries as well. In July and August it’s time to really enjoy the river swing without worrying about falling in. And those outdoor hot showers! In September the nights are drawing in so you want to nab those full moon dates before someone else gets them! Think of all that extra light at midnight. September is also when the Himalayan Balsam pods are ripe and burst like nature’s popcorn from their malty scented pods. The perfect healthy snack while walking to the pub. Mushrooming season comes into its own. In October the yurts are covered in a windfall of chestnuts – perfect for roasting.
Throughout the entire season do get stuck into some bushcraft and outdoor cooking techniques. Our instructors will guide you. If you’re nervous about mushrooming we have a qualified guide. If you have no idea how to ponass a trout we have an instructor. If you want to identify those bird calls we have yet another qualified guide. If you want to spend the whole weekend foraging and gutting and cooking in a pot suspended above a fire from green hazel pot holders you’ve made yourselves – we can help you do that too. If you want to boil water in the woods in a storm kettle we’ll show you. It’s all do-able because we have an amazing team who can show you in a bespoke personal way. We are now introducing workshops for day visitors not staying in the yurts – ask about dates for Basketry Workshops (all levels) or Deer to Venison in a Day – that’s everything from gutting, preserving the hide, preparing the antlers to cooking the haunch in a fire pit to dig out later that evening with your campfire. Check out our link to our sibling company The Outside Institute UK where we put together all our outdoor workshops – even the ones that have nothing to do with nature. Some are about fitness and photography and floristry… so long as they take place in the woods
