Gareth talks about the woodland site

Co-owner of Ashlyn Woods and one of the four Manifest organisers, Gareth Burr talks to Andy Wood about the venue.

AW What can you tell me about Ashlyn Wood and what your vision for it is?
GB Ashlyn is an ancient wood, which means it has been a continuously managed woodland since well before the first maps were made. There’s evidence that there were three moats here – one still exists – and of settlement use, possibly from the times of the Knights Templars who were very active in the locality.

“We’re passionate about re-wilding…”

“The whole site initially consisted of 17 acres of woodland and 55 acres of water meadow which the river Cam winds its way through before heading off into Cambridge. My partner and I bought this site because we are passionate about protecting and regenerating the woodland habitat; about rewilding. We aim to double the woodland acreage. We have already planted 4000 trees and created a new woodland area of about 25 acres. We feel very privileged to be able to look after the land and maintain it as it has always been.

Nature immersion activities
“we run several events on the site that enable people to come and enjoy and immerse themselves in nature. We have simple amenities on site to facilitate this, including covered workshop areas, wood fired hot showers and a well equipped field kitchen.

“Probably the biggest sauna you’ll encounter”
Gareth’s pride and joy is his 40 seater Finnish sauna which he designed and built himself (with help of course!)
“The sauna seats 40 people comfortably. It’s a circular construction made of larch, with a genuine Finnish sauna stove in the middle. We heat volcanic rocks on the stove to create the steam. It’s a fantastic space. You can use it informally, but we also organise ceremonial sweat lodges modelled on the native American tradition.
“I love the compost loos – zero pollution at source!”

Another feature of the site which Gareth is enthusiastic about are the compost loos.
“Compost loos are a clean and efficient way to deal with sewerage that visitors generate. They return all the waste to the land for reuse within one to two years. There’s a very simple etiquette for using them which keeps them clean, odour-free and safe.”

AW You’re not just the site owner, your also one of the Manifest facilitators. Why do you do this?
“I love mindfulness in nature. Activities I’ll be offering will include mindfulness workshops, practical woodland management activities for any of the guys who’d like to spend some of the time here helping out, and talks on sustainability.

AW Why do you think it’s important for men to take time to just be with each other?
“I love the special, supercharged intensity of these men’s gatherings. It’s a very rich way for men to come together, to share and care for each other and the natural world. It’s important for men to have that space, for inquiry, unhurried conversations, to develop that sense of community, of fraternity. It’s not just the participants who benefit. Men take that energy back out into the world for the benefit of all.