Membership - Friends of HARE
HARE is a nature-centric community collective of nature-loving practitioners, who collaborate to bring their services to our local community.
Based in Hazel Wood, near Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, HARE is a community-focused organisation that promotes physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, creativity, spirituality, environmental stewardship and community connection through creating welcoming and inclusive opportunities for connection with the natural world in a beautiful ancient woodland.
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Our current members include, wellness coach/practitioners, craft tutors, art therapist, land workers and teachers. We are open to any individual, community group or organisation offering any service that is in line with HARE's aims and values. You can apply to become a member using the button at the bottom of the page.
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Our members offer a variety of workshops and events in our woodland, as well as running regular Food & Fire evenings for Members, Volunteers and those interested in joining us.
​Past offerings include:
Seasonal community celebrations throughout the year, such as, Ostara, Beltane and Summer Solstice
Beltane Willow Wreath Workshop
Community Well-being Walks
Children's Forest Skills Workshops
Woodland Stay & Play for young children and carers
Gardening for mental health
Family Days & Open Days
Christmas Wreath Making Workshop
Networking Events for practitioners
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Upcoming events & workshops in 2026 include:​
Our Seasonal Celebrations continue around the wheel of the year
Herbal Medicine & Foraging
Sacred Feminine Retreats
Sound Baths
Wild Clay Workshops
Basketry Workshops
Children's Forest Skills Workshops (in school holidays)
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We also offer woodland celebrations, including children's forest birthday parties.
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Our Structure
We run as a co-operative, which means we are people-centred and are run by our members for our community. We act together to build a better world and a sustainable organisation through cooperation. Putting equity, fairness, and social justice at the heart of everything we do.
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We believe that disconnection from nature, our creativity and spirituality are huge driving factors in the current mental health issues we face in society as a whole. So all our offerings include these restorative elements and are structured around the seasons and sabbats of the wheel of the year.​
Becoming a Member of HARE
A central aim of our membership programme is to create opportunities for greater connection, collaboration and mutual support. ​Anyone can apply to become a member of HARE - individuals, community groups or organisations. Members decide which new members join, based on shared values and alignment in philosophy. We also consider current gaps in our skillset and what we are able to offer. Members use consensus decision making to reach agreement on all aspects of running the organisation, including choosing new members.
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If you long to have a woodland base to practice your craft or offer your group or service, or you simply wish to be part of a collaborative organisation, you can apply to become a member of HARE below.
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Why become a member of HARE?
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HARE already has the operational structures in place that you need to bring your vital services to your local community, including (see policy below for full details):
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A licence to use Hazel Woods for well-being & educational purposes
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A website to create bookings for your event, workshop, group, course or performance.
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Social media platforms with a following to advertise your service.
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Three years of serving the local community and building trust in our name and services.
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Public Liability and Employers Liability insurance for outdoor events.
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Risk assessment templates and examples
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Policies and Procedures & due diligence
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Session plan templates
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Admin support to get your service bookable and advertised, if needed.
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A community of like-minded members offering support and collaboration
Many self-employed creatives, wellness practitioners, land workers and small charitable organisations work alone in a siloed way, with limited resources, time and energy. Feeling overwhelmed, isolated and stretched too thin, having to run all aspects of a business or organisation alone.
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Working within a collaborative structure means that instead of each of us running all aspects of a business or organisation, we work as a team, focusing on what each of us is good at. We share the load. We work collaboratively with other like-minded individuals. Our creativity is given more space to grow and develop ideas and our stress levels reduce. We are able to communicate, bounce ideas off each other, and feed on each other's curiosity, excitement and enthusiasm for the work. And, we love to have a good natter and toast a marshmallow on the fire.​
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If you would like to join our next team Food & Fire evening, meet our members and get a feel for whether we are right for you, whatsapp us on 07761164352.
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If you have any queries after reading this page, or the policy below, please contact us.
