Friends of HARE

Since we gained our licence to use Hazel Wood in June 2024 - exactly two years after Susie and I (Charlie) first viewed it - we have been contemplating how we could share this beautiful woodland site with other practitioners and organisations.

The woodland is owned by Forestry England and leased by Oakraven Field Centre. The woodland has been part of the Field Centre for decades. When Gloucestershire County Council sold all their Field Centres in 2014, the new owners continued to lease the woodland. HARE’s licence sits under the Field Centre’s lease, so we work closely with them. They also kindly allow us to use their car park and allow us and participants to access our site through their recreation field.

Our licence is solely for use by HARE, and since our insurance is only valid if we have consent to use the land, from its owners, others would not be covered. So when other local organisations have asked us if they could use our site, we have sadly had to say no. We know there are many other nature-centric organisations and individual facilitators locally who would love to have a woodland site of their own, to be able to run workshops, Forest School, forest bathing, arts and crafts, talks and courses and other services for our local community. So for a long time we felt stuck and unsure how we could share this amazing resource.

However, while at Hazel Wood in the Summer of 2025, I had an idea. Possibly after dipping in the frigid waters of St Anthony’s Well, just down the road. Sometimes ideas come to us like this, when we are immersed in nature and fully connected with life force energy. We always know it is divine guidance from source, from Mother Nature herself.

With our team stretched so thin in 2025 through bereavement and illness, the sad departure of Susie to another role, and later, Georgie starting her Masters Degree in Art Psychotherapy, the idea was left suspended in the back of our minds for months. However, the idea percolated and developed. We believe in divine timing. Sometimes an idea needs space and time to grow into an actionable plan. Sometimes it feels as though nothing is happening. But seeds are quietly growing roots beneath the soil.

In January 2026, I visited Hazel Wood with Tanya, one of HARE’s four original co-founders, to look for the best place to plant basketry willow. While we were in our glade area, I shared my vision for a membership scheme that would enable other practitioners and organisations to join HARE without losing the autonomy of their own organisation or business. I also shared with Tanya my vision for a garden theatre space in our glade area, which had been percolating for a similar length of time (more on that later). Of course, Tanya being the amazing creative she is, immediately understood both visions and ran with them. Asking questions, drawing up a complex spider diagram, coming up with ideas for names and helping me develop them into a practical and actionable plan. A plan which would meet people’s needs whilst ensuring we comply with our legal obligations. I then spoke to Georgie, who’s excitement, enthusiasm and encouragement left me feeling further inspired. This all gave me the clarity and springboard I needed to turn our vision and excitement into policy and procedure.

This is how we work collaboratively at HARE, inspiring and encouraging each other, bouncing ideas, inspiration and excitement, building on each other’s thoughts and developing ideas. Until a seed of an idea takes root and grows into fruition.

We have spent the past month or so creating this vision, and are now ready to introduce ‘Friends of HARE’. Our membership scheme which will enable any individual or organisation who wishes to run nature-centric services connecting people with nature, to use Hazel Wood and our operational structures, along with admin and finance support, if needed.

If you are a nature-centric practitioner

without a home

We open our home to you

Pull up a log seat or mat

Warm yourself by the fire

Listen to the birdsong

Notice the delicate fragrance 

of the bluebells in the air

Cook a potato on the fire

Drink a herbal tea

Nourish your body, mind and soul

Ground yourself in the soil and

feel the connection to all things

The trees

the rivers

the rocks 

the plants 

the insects 

the birds and animals

and know that we are all one

Together we are stronger

Together we rise

If you are interested in joining Friends of HARE, you can find more information and how to apply on the membership page of our website: https://www.harecic.co.uk/friends-of-hare. We are so excited to work with you.

See you in the woods soon!

One Love

Charlie and the HARE team