What Happened At Our Spring Balance Retreat At Lime Wood

At the end of April, we welcomed guests to our Spring Balance Retreat at Lime Wood, the five-star country house hotel in the heart of the New Forest. Designed to restore energy and spark fresh inspiration, the expert-led retreat was hosted by our wellness editor, Camilla Hewitt. Here’s what went down…

Inside Our Spring Balance Retreat

The day began with forager and folklorist Sammie Longhorn, who guided guests through the hotel grounds. Along the way, Sammie introduced a variety of native plants, sharing their medicinal uses as well as their significance in British history, folklore and legend. After learning about the benefits of dandelion, nettles, wild garlic and other seasonal botanicals, guests returned to the Greenhouse to discover how these ingredients can be incorporated into everyday cooking. Primrose and dandelion flower cordial was served alongside wild garlic scones topped with whipped local goat’s cheese and edible flowers.

Energised by nature’s abundant larder, we then gathered for an immersive fragrance workshop led by British fragrance house Molton Brown. Exploring the powerful relationship between scent and wellbeing, the session demonstrated how fragrance can evoke memories and emotions. Guests sampled a curated collection of scents, including the iconic Orange & Bergamot and the newly launched Tea Ceremony Eau de Parfum. With notes of calming hinoki wood, earthy matcha and sweet nashi pear, the fragrance perfectly complemented a day immersed in the ancient woodland surroundings of the New Forest.

Before lunch, guests headed to the Hideout, where world-renowned yoga teacher and Soul Sanctuary founder Cat Meffan led an energising yoga flow followed by a restorative sound bath. Feeling both grounded and recharged, everyone then gathered for lunch: grilled seabass with salsa verde, artichoke salad and generous servings of tiramisu (after all, it is a ‘Balance Retreat’).

We eased into the afternoon with a fascia sculpting workshop led by Elisa Lune. Designed to release tension held within the connective tissues surrounding the muscles, the session taught guests how to apply targeted pressure to restricted areas in order to improve mobility, ease discomfort and restore balance throughout the body.

The retreat concluded with a meditation session led by Maude Hirst. Offering a moment of stillness and reflection, the practice encouraged guests to absorb the day’s teachings, set intentions for the months ahead, and leave feeling revitalised and ready to move forward with greater ease.