A typical day
Four nights, full board, and as much or as little structure as you need.
There is no schedule you have to keep up with and no pressure to be constantly doing.
Every workshop and activity is optional, so you can be as social, adventurous, reflective or restful as you need. However you spend your time, you will be doing it alongside other men who understand.
Come to everything. Come to nothing. Both are fine.
A suggested timetable
This is the shape of the residential we are working towards. The exact programme and timings may change, but this gives you a clear idea of what to expect.
| Time | Arrival day and Night 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Departure morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Optional facilitated exercise, movement or meditation, with space for a participant-led morning activity | Optional facilitated exercise, movement or meditation, with space for a participant-led morning activity | Optional facilitated exercise, movement or meditation, with space for a participant-led morning activity | Pack, rest or spend time together | |
| 9:00am | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | |
| 10:00am to 11:30am | Workshop A and Workshop B run at the same time | Workshop C and Workshop D run at the same time | Workshop E and Workshop F run at the same time | ||
| 11:30am to 1:00pm | Free time, facilitated activities and participant-led contributions | Free time, facilitated activities and participant-led contributions | Free time, facilitated activities and participant-led contributions | Check out | |
| 1:00pm | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Leave by 11:00am | |
| 2:30pm to 4:00pm | Arrival, check-in, find your room and settle in. Tea, coffee and snacks available. | Workshop A and Workshop B run again, with the groups swapping | Workshop C and Workshop D run again, with the groups swapping | Workshop E and Workshop F run again, with the groups swapping | |
| 4:00pm to 6:00pm | Welcome and introductions | Free time, facilitated activities and participant-led contributions | Free time, facilitated activities and participant-led contributions | Free time, facilitated activities and participant-led contributions | |
| 6:00pm | Explore, sign up to offer a workshop, socialise, rest, relax | Base Group or optional Speak It Space | Base Group or optional Speak It Space | Base Group or optional Speak It Space | |
| 7:00pm | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | |
| 8:30pm | Evening activity, free time and fire | Evening activity, free time and fire | Evening activity, free time and fire | Closing fire circle |
Scroll sideways to see all days.
Physical movement, walks, the plunge pool, crafts, haircuts, massage and other facilitated activities will appear at different points across the days rather than being fixed to one daily slot.
Men attending the residential can also offer crafts, skills, games, discussions, walks and other contributions during the gaps in the programme.
Nightly fires will be part of the residential, with a larger closing fire circle on the fourth night.
The programme board
The full programme will be displayed on a large board in a central, step-free communal area.
It will show:
- each workshop and activity;
- when and where it is happening;
- who is leading it;
- what participants will be invited to do;
- access and sensory information;
- whether movement, touch or personal sharing are involved;
- any changes to the programme.
The board will also include open spaces where men can add something they would like to offer, such as a craft, game, skill, conversation, morning activity or shared interest.
Participant-led contributions will use simple prompts so other men know what is involved before choosing whether to join.
How to read the programme
The programme will distinguish between workshops, activities and participant-led contributions.
Workshop
A structured session led by a named facilitator.
Access is treated as part of workshop design rather than an afterthought. Facilitators will be asked to consider different bodies, energy levels, communication styles and ways of taking part.
Where possible, workshops will include adaptations or alternative forms of participation. Every description will explain what can be adapted and any limits the facilitator cannot remove.
Activity
An optional social, creative, recreational or outdoor part of the residential.
Activities vary more widely. Some may depend on woodland terrain, water, weather, equipment, noise, lighting or physical movement.
We will describe those conditions clearly and, where practical, suggest other ways to take part.
Participant-led
Something offered by a man attending the residential, such as a game, skill, craft, discussion, walk or shared interest.
Participant-led contributions are part of the informal community programme rather than professional services or facilitated workshops. They remain subject to the residential's expectations around consent, safety, access, legality and venue rules.
The team may pause an activity if those boundaries are not being respected.
Programme labels
Each listing may use the following labels:
- Optional
- There is no expectation that you attend.
- Drop-in
- You can arrive or leave quietly while the activity is taking place.
- Facilitated
- Held by a named workshop or activity facilitator.
- Participant-led
- Offered by another man attending the residential.
- Quiet
- Designed to involve little talking or social interaction.
- Sharing
- Includes an invitation to speak, reflect or listen to personal experiences. Speaking is never required.
- Movement
- Includes physical activity. The description will state the likely intensity and available adaptations.
- Touch
- May involve touch, partner work, massage or close physical interaction. Consent is required every time.
- Outdoors
- Takes place outside. The description will explain the terrain, distance and likely weather exposure.
- Higher energy
- Likely to involve more noise, movement, stimulation or group interaction.
What workshop listings will tell you
Every workshop listing will include:
- the purpose and format of the session;
- what you will be invited to do;
- whether personal reflection or sharing is involved;
- whether it is seated, standing or mixed;
- the expected movement and energy level;
- how it can be adapted;
- any parts that cannot be adapted;
- whether touch, partner work or close group interaction may be involved;
- whether clothing may need to be removed or adjusted;
- the likely sound, lighting, scents and sensory environment;
- whether it takes place indoors or outdoors;
- the terrain and route to the space;
- whether you can observe without taking part;
- who is leading it;
- anything you need to bring.
Activity listings will include the access information relevant to that activity, such as terrain, steps, water access, noise, weather exposure, physical effort, equipment or touch.
You are always free to observe, pause, leave or change your mind.
Full information about the site and wider access arrangements is available on our Accessibility page.
Workshops to explore, not obligations to attend
Across the residential there will be a wide programme of optional workshops led by facilitators and members of the community.
You might find yourself writing something you have never said out loud, making art, moving your body through fitness or movement sessions, exploring guided breathing practices, joining games and music sessions, trying meditation, laughing through joy workshops or discovering something entirely new.
Have something you would love to share? A skill, hobby, craft, story, activity or experience?
Men do not need professional credentials or previous facilitation experience to offer something. Attendee-led sessions are peer contributions rather than professional services or advice.
The boundaries are consent, safety, access, legality and venue rules. Everyone decides for himself whether to take part, and the Brother Nature team may pause an activity if those boundaries are not being respected.
No pressure, just an invitation.
Food that lets you relax
Every meal is freshly catered and included. The menu is vegetarian and vegan.
We take dietary requirements seriously, including coeliac disease, allergies, intolerances and autoimmune conditions that affect diet.
We collect detailed information in advance, including cross-contamination requirements, and work with the venue and caterers to plan safely.
Where a requirement needs particular care, we will speak with you directly before your place is confirmed.
More than workshops
Some of the best moments happen in between.
Take a woodland walk, sit around the fire, cool off in the plunge pool, book a haircut or massage, stay up talking with new friends, perform at the open mic soirée, or simply enjoy watching everyone else.
Nothing is compulsory. Sometimes the most restorative thing is simply being together.
Before you arrive
Walking into a room full of strangers can feel daunting.
Everyone will be invited to a group Zoom before the residential, giving you the chance to meet a few friendly faces, ask questions and feel more at ease before you pack your bag.