About

'Rooted as a tree, free as a bird!'

Sunday August 16^th 2026 10am-4pm

Join us in the peaceful setting of Swarthmoor Hall, Ulverston for a day of embodiment, connection and creative expression, featuring:

• Mindful nature connection

• Dance and the ancient practice of QiGong (mindful moving & breathing)

• Singing simple and joyful songs round the campfire

Take time out from daily life to nurture a sense of grounded presence, lightness and joy! 

Your hosts for the day

This day is an exciting new collaboration between Qi-gong and dance practitioner Barbara Cushnie and creative and nature based facilitator Amy Boud of Playful Nature CIC, both based in Ulverston area. We are excited to weave our wealth of experience and inspiration into a flowing and fruitful day for you! Read on to hear more about who we are...


Our extra special venue

Swarthmoor Hall, is known as the 'cradle of Quakerism', which has peaceful contemplation at it's heart - the perfect place for a calming and reflective day together! The historic building sits in idyllic and spacious grounds with gardens, meadows, orchard and stream running through. For this day the site will be closed to the public so we can really unwind and relax into nature. The hall is within walking distance of Ulverston town and the train station, via a lovely path through the countryside :-) 

The benefits of taking part

This day offers so many potential benefits to support your wellbeing:

• Learn simple, tried and tested, wellbeing practices to take back into your everyday life

• Quieten your mind and calm your nervous system

• Nurture a more balanced and embodied sense of presence with life

• Connect more deeply to nature

• Awaken your playfulness and creativity

• Gain a sense of spaciousness to reflect on life

• Feel better resourced to tackle life’s challenges

Tea and snacks included but please bring your own lunch :-)


Why is this needed?

It is our belief that life on Earth is a precious gift, but it can also sometimes be very challenging! Many people we come into contact with through our work are saying they feel overstimulated, stressed and disconnected from a deeper sense of self, community, and nature. Global events and the sense of growing division in society can, for some people, trigger feelings of insecurity whilst rapid technological change puts demands on our minds and presents a whole variety of potential challenges we are yet to fully understand.  

We are offering this day as an antidote to these challenges of being human right now; We hope to contribute towards a growing sense of individual and community resilience and to help us remember the wonder of existence amidst a changing world!

Who is it for?

We welcome anyone who feels drawn to join us! You don’t need to have any prior experience of the practices on offer, just a curiosity to give it a try. We will be emphasising the power of these practices to support our wellbeing rather than worrying about getting it ‘right’. This is an event for adults only (18+)

Can we tempt you to join us? 

We are offering a limited number of fantastic value early bird tickets at £65, if you book before the 5th of July. Full price tickets are still great value - just £75! (NB: There is a 5% booking fee added at checkout) We are keen to make these experiences accessible to all incomes. Please get in touch if you can't afford to come and we will see how we can help.

We hope you feel inspired to join us for this very special one off event!

ABOUT YOUR HOSTS

Barbara Cushnie  

Barb has been immersed in the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 20 years as an acupuncturist, and has been training in and practicing Qi Gong for 15. In her younger years Barb worked as a contemporary/creative community dance teacher and over recent years Barb has been studying the science of the mind body connection through the lens of neuroscience and neuro-endocrinology. Her experience and perspective brings ancient practices & wisdom to life whist her deeply somatic and embodied approach empowers people towards exploring better balance, strength, calm and natural joy. 

Here’s what people have said about Barb’s work:

‘It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve become a part of,…I would never have found my inner Qi if it wasn’t for you and your gentle, caring, guidance and teachings I’m eternally grateful xx’

‘Really enjoying your inspirational classes and everything you teach us. Qigong really is the very best thing to have come into my life and I just love it’

See Barb's website here

Amy Boud

Amy has been offering creative and nature based experiences in Cumbria since 2010 and is the Lead Director of Playful Nature CIC. Through nature connection, mindfulness, creative workshops, and campfire celebrations she aims to support people to connect with their instinctive, playful selves, with each other, and the living earth. She hopes to nurture health and happiness, in an increasingly challenging world, and to be part of the cultural shift to bring humans back into balance with the planet we live on. Amy has a lifelong love of the living world and enjoys walking, gardening, and just sitting, in nature. She has been enjoying music for years – in drum circles, singing groups, and folk bands and is currently exploring her own connection to nature through her songwriting.

Here’s what people have said about Amy’s work:

“Thankyou Amy that was a really magical afternoon. You held the space in such a warm and joyful way that felt really accessible. A gift for my spirit and provided the much needed time and space to reconnect. I look forward to more of that!” Workshop participant

“You are so good at creating safety through your acceptance of all folks and contributions” – Workshop participant

I enjoyed “Taking the time to listen and slow down and tune into my senses. And doing this with a new group of people – lots of laughs and not taking ourselves too seriously” – Project participant

See Playful Nature online here.

Date

Location

Get directions

Swarthmoor Hall
Swarthmoor Hall , Swarthmoor Hall Lane, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 0JQ

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