Rookhow
Rookhow is a Quaker charity in Rusland, South Lakeland. With a 300 year old Quaker Meeting House, 16 bed bunkbarn and 12 acres of ancient oak woodland, Rookhow is a special place for many people. It continues to gather together people of all ages and backgrounds and aims to be accessible to all members of the community.
Storytelling for Restoration and Connection
Friday 13th-Sunday 15th March 2026
A creative development weekend for adults involved or interested in peace and reconciliation, restorative practice and community building with Hannah Moore, storyteller supported by Sue Nicholls. Exploring storytelling as a powerful ingredient for peace and reconciliation work and for bringing people together.
Drawing on tales that carry themes of restoration, reconciliation, healing and understanding, the weekend will explore how traditional stories help us, as peace-workers, reconcilers, facilitators, people of faith, community builders and leaders to develop our understanding of ourselves and others.
The programme recognises that, in working for peace and reconciliation, one of the most powerful instruments we have is ourselves – our self-awareness, and how we live and model our values, so the weekend will include lots of opportunities to start with your own experience and expand out from there to explore the wider picture: interpersonal, communal, global.
Rookhow
Rookhow Easter Gathering 2026
Friday 3rd- Monday 6th April 2026
'CONNECTING PEOPLE: BUILDING COMMUNITY'
Annual all age Easter Gathering at Rookhow, where Quakers from the 'scattered communities of the Society of Friends' have gathered for over 300 years. A 3 night weekend residential, starting with the Good Friday Meeting for Worship (11am), reflections, discussions, campfires and games in the woods, walks together, Epilogues, sharing food- a chance to meet with old friends and make new ones. Finishes Monday morning 11am.
Rookhow Quaker Meeting House
Cultivating Peace: Essential Habits of a Reconciler
Friday 15th-Sunday 17th May 2026
A weekend led by Hannah Larn and Anna Caffell from the Rose Castle Foundation drawing on their expertise of working with different communities towards a more peaceful world. Practical, helpful tools to encourage reflection and change.
Rookhow
A Foundation in Nonviolent communication
Friday 16th-Sunday 18th October 2026
With Shona Cameron
Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a practical, learnable process for communicating with empathy, honesty, power and compassion. The purpose of NVC is to ensure everyone’s needs are valued equally and fulfilled in ways that contribute to connection, harmony and peace. Nonviolent Communication develops people’s ability to listen to and transform blame, anger and criticism into respectful, constructive communication, and to resolve conflicts peacefully. NVC is a means for giving feedback empathically, so as to sustain self esteem, and enable people to learn and grow. NVC has a profound effect on our relationships and on the contexts of our lives.
This training which presents the concepts and tools used in NVC; introduces you to the steps of the NVC process for use in expressing yourself to others, listening to others and listening compassionately to yourself, will give you sufficient information and practice to start using NVC in your daily life
Rookhow
Rookhow 300th anniversary weekend
Friday 6th-Sunday 8th June 2025
A celebration of Rookhow's Tricentenary.
300 years ago people travelled from outlying areas to Rookhow to meet with their wider Quaker community. In the spirit of this, for the 300th anniversary we would like to invite people to travel on foot or cycle from different places to a Meeting for Worship, shared simple lunch with an afternoon of speakers and activities.
There will be 3 cycle rides from local Meeting Houses and a walk from Newby Bridge via High Dam. People can also share lifts from local train stations, park close by and walk to Rookhow.
We're hoping a group of people of all ages will choose to stay on site as hosts and welcome those who arrive on the Saturday. People may also stay on the Saturday night.
Rookhow Quaker Meeting House
Being Quaker; Doing Quaker
Friday 16th- Sunday 18th May 2025
' What it means to be a Quaker today.'
A weekend to explore Quaker spirituality, reflect on our own spiritual journeys, past, present and future and look at what unites Quakers in their beliefs and action. A 'grounding' weekend to reconnect with our Quaker roots to give energy to move forwards.
Facilitated by granddaughter and grandmother duo Nyeri Otero Flanagan and Veronica Grant with Rookhow's Development Manager Sue Nicholls.
WHO IS IT FOR?
18s +. Members, attenders and those exploring Quakerism.
PURPOSE
The opportunity to explore the Quaker faith in more depth:
• To look at the historical context in which Quakerism is rooted
• To reflect on our own spiritual journeys
• How do Quakers let their lives speak?
• What unites Quakers in beliefs and practices
Rookhow
Rookhow Easter Gathering 2025
Friday 18th-Monday 21st April 2025
Annual all age Easter Gathering at Rookhow, where Quakers from the 'scattered communities of the Society of Friends' have gathered for nearly 300 years. A 3 night weekend residential, starting with the Good Friday Meeting for Worship (11am), reflections, discussions, campfires and games in the woods, walks together, Epilogues, sharing food- a chance to meet with old friends and make new ones. Finishes Monday after lunch.
Rookhow Quaker Meeting House
Reconciliation & Conflict Transformation
Friday 14- Sunday 16th March 2025
A weekend exploring reconciliation and conflict transformation to become more equipped as reconcilers in our personal contexts. Using some of the learning in the Journey of Hope pilgrimage and other useful tools and models for working well with conflict. We’ll also draw on natural inspiration from Quakers’ Wood.
Facilitated by Esther Dix, Brec Seaton and Sue Nicholls
Esther Dix is an artist, coach, and educator. She is also on a pilgrimage, exploring and writing about hope, loss, beauty, and LGBTQ+ justice.
Brec Seaton works for the Leaning Network of the Methodist Church. She has developed national training programmes in conflict resolution and is a mediator with Place for Hope.
Sue Nicholls is Rookhow’s Development Manager and was on the Journey of Hope pilgrimage with Esther. She has a background in working with children and young people and is an author of emotional literacy resources. She also works as a community music leader.
Rookhow
Restore-Nurture-Create weekend at Rookhow
Friday 11th- Sunday 13th October 2024
All age community weekend at Rookhow, with stories, songs, crafts, Epilogues and campfires- a chance to meet with old friends and make new ones. Come and enjoy the peace of Rookhow and the beauty of the woodland.
Rookhow
Curious About Quakers weekend
Friday 26th-Sunday 28th April 2024
Aim: an opportunity to explore Quakerism with time and space for reflection in the company of others. A chance to ask questions and share experiences.
Who is it for? Regular attenders, people new to Quakerism, Quakers who are eager to reflect on their Quaker belonging. In order to get the most from the weekend, we ask participants to be there for the whole weekend. It's obviously better to stay at Rookhow (space in the Bunkbarn, yurt and Meeting House) but some people may choose to stay in B&Bs or travel from home each day.
Before the weekend participants are encouraged to looks at Quaker Advices & Queries and read Geoffrey Durham’s book ‘Being a Quaker: a Guide for Newcomers’. Contact Sue if you need to borrow a copy or buy your own. Ebay has some 2nd hand copies.
Rookhow Quaker Meeting House
Rookhow Easter Gathering 2024
Friday 29th March- Monday 1st April 2024
Annual all age Easter Gathering at Rookhow, where Quakers from the 'scattered communities of the Society of Friends' have gathered for nearly 300 years. A weekend residential, starting with the Good Friday Meeting for Worship (11am), reflections, discussions, campfires and games in the woods, walks together, Epilogues, sharing food- a chance to meet with old friends and make new ones.
Rookhow Quaker Meeting House
Rookhow volunteer 'Spruce up the Bunkbarn' weekend
Friday 28th-Sunday 30th January 2022
A 2 night residential weekend cleaning, painting and improving the Bunkbarn for this year's guests. Young people welcome. Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian.
Rookhow Quaker Meeting House
Rookhow volunteer hedge planting weekend
Friday 10th-Sunday 12th December 2021
A 2 night residential weekend planting 600 hedge plants, donated by the Woodland Trust, by the side of the bunkbarn and behind the Meeting House. Young people welcome. Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian.
Rookhow Quaker Meeting House
Rookhow COP26 Retreat
Wednesday 6th Oct - Friday 8th Oct 2021
A 2 night residential retreat focusing on our responses to climate change with walks, workshops, campfire and celebration in Quakers' Wood. Meeting for Worship on the Wednesday and community gathering on the Thursday.
We are aware of many groups holding events as we move towards the COP26 summit in Glasgow. We want to take this opportunity to give thanks for what we have and to uphold our world leaders as they grapple with the challenge of responding to the climate emergency.
Rookhow Quaker Meeting House
Understanding Peace workshop (eve) Repeat of 29/4/21
Thursday 27 May 2021
Led by Heather Larkin-Jones, MPhil in Quaker Studies (Woodbrooke) and member of Brigflatts Meeting, this interactive and reflective workshop will start with the understanding that peace is in effect well-managed conflict.
Rookhow is a Quaker charity but all are welcome to attend. Free event with donations towards Rookhow's running costs gratefully received.
Assertiveness workshop (eve) Repeat of 15/4/21
Tuesday 11 May 2021
An interactive workshop led by Sue Nicholls, author of Let's Talk Assertiveness, exploring effective communication & interaction. Understanding the difference between assertive, passive & aggressive responses, we’ll look at how to be assertive in different situations including saying no, receiving a compliment, making complaints & resolving conflict.
Rookhow is a Quaker charity but all are welcome to attend. Free event with donations towards Rookhow's running costs gratefully received.
Understanding Peace workshop (am)
Thursday 29 April 2021
Led by Heather Larkin-Jones, MPhil in Quaker Studies (Woodbrooke) and member of Brigflatts Meeting, this interactive and reflective workshop will start with the understanding that peace is in effect well-managed conflict.
Rookhow is a Quaker charity but all are welcome to attend. Free event with donations towards Rookhow's running costs gratefully received.
Assertiveness workshop (am)
Thursday 15 April 2021
An interactive workshop led by Sue Nicholls, author of Let's Talk Assertiveness, exploring effective communication & interaction. Understanding the difference between assertive, passive & aggressive responses, we’ll look at how to be assertive in different situations including saying no, receiving a compliment, making complaints & resolving conflict.
Rookhow is a Quaker charity but all are welcome to attend. Free event with donations towards Rookhow's running costs gratefully received.
How has the coronovirus pandemic changed us?
Thursday 25 March 2021
An interactive small and large group discussion led by Sue Nicholls, involving personal reflection and a looking at the bigger picture. Will there ever be a 'return to normal' or have things changed irrevocably? What do we want to take with us as we move forwards? What questions does this raise for the future?
Rookhow is a Quaker charity but all are welcome to attend. Free event with donations towards Rookhow's running costs gratefully received.
ROOKHOW Gratitude workshop 6.30-9pm (repeat of 2/2/21)
Tuesday 2 March 2021
Join with other Rookhow supporters & friends for an interactive session to explore the importance of gratitude. Being grateful has been shown to improve people's mental wellbeing and social interactions. We'll look at practices which can help us build inner-strength & a more positive outlook on life. Facilitated by Rookhow's Development Manager, Sue Nicholls.
Rookhow is a Quaker charity but all are welcome to attend. This event is free but we welcome donations towards Rookhow's running costs.
ROOKHOW Resilience workshop (2-4.30pm)
Thursday 11 February 2021
Now more than ever, we are having to deal with constant change and challenges. In this workshop, led by Sue Nicholls, Rookhow Development Manager & author of 'Let's Talk: Resilience', we'll be exploring how we can change the way we react to situations & find strength to bounce back. Interactive and practical, the session is open to all.
Rookhow is a Quaker charity but all are welcome to attend. This event is free but we welcome donations towards Rookhow's running costs.
ROOKHOW Gratitude workshop (10am-12.30pm)
Tuesday 2 February 2021
Join with other Rookhow supporters & friends for an interactive session to explore the importance of gratitude. Being grateful has been shown to improve people's mental wellbeing and social interactions. We'll look at practices which can help us build inner-strength & a more positive outlook on life. Facilitated by Rookhow's Development Manager, Sue Nicholls.
Rookhow is a Quaker charity but all are welcome to attend. This event is free but we welcome donations towards Rookhow's running costs.
Rookhow Loving Earth Workshop
2 sessions Tues 15th & 22nd Dec 2-4.30pm
The LOVING EARTH PROJECT celebrates people, places, creatures and
other things that we love but which are threatened by growing environmental
breakdown.
Individuals are invited to explore how the future of something,
someone or somewhere that we love is affected by our own actions and to
produce a textile panel or other piece of creative work to illustrate this.
Facilitated by Caroline Stow, artist/ Rookhow trustee. 2 sessions before Christmas.
ROOKHOW 'Inner Stillness' retreat on Zoom
Tuesday 8 December 2020
Join with other Rookhow supporters & friends for a creative half day retreat facilitated by Development Manager Sue Nicholls. An reflective workshop using all the senses to explore inner stillness.
Find a peaceful centre, reconnect with what matters to you and gain strength and focus. There will be some periods of gathered silence. Please bring a poem or reading to share as part of the workshop.
Rookhow is a Quaker charity but all are welcome to attend.
ROOKHOW Resilience workshop on Zoom (evening)
Tuesday 1 December 2020
Now more than ever, we are having to deal with constant change and challenges. Why can some people adapt to change more easily than others? Is resilience something you're born with, or something you can learn? In this 2.5 hour workshop, led by Sue Nicholls, Rookhow Development Manager & author of 'Let's Talk: Resilience', we'll be exploring how we can change the way we react to situations & find strength to bounce back.
ROOKHOW Resilience workshop on Zoom (morning)
Tuesday 24 November 2020
Now more than ever, we are having to deal with constant change and challenges. Why can some people adapt to change more easily than others? Is resilience something you're born with, or something you can learn? In this 2.5 hour workshop, led by Sue Nicholls, Rookhow Development Manager & author of 'Let's Talk: Resilience', we'll be exploring how we can change the way we react to situations & find strength to bounce back.
