A Place to be Real Together
We wish to say a big THANK YOU to Allchurches Trust. In Oct 2019 we received a cheque for £5,250 from the trust to help with equipping Four Seasons Studio. Allchurches Trust is one of the UK's largest grantmaking charities and has a thematic programme 'Growing Lives'. Visit their site for more info (allchurches.co.uk).
Completion target for Four Seasons Studio is before the start of '... Read More
No cost! No catch! Raise donations whenever you shop online.
We have registered with EasyFundraising!
This is a completely free and simple way to raise money towards big projects such as the Four Seasons Studio - without any cost to yourself or Othona! The donation comes from the retailer and is sent automatically to Othona.
All sorts of big retailers are involved: John Lewis, Ebay, Sainsburys, M&S, Trainline, Expedia, ScrewFix, GoCompare, uSwitch, Amazon... and many many more.
Learn more about joining by visiting our ... Read More
We wish to say a big THANK YOU to The Inlight Trust. In July 2019 we received a cheque for £25,000 from the trust to support the Four Seasons Studio project. This financial support meant that we could give the green light and start building! Learn more about this wonderful new space on the Four Seasons Studio page.
The Inlight Trust first funded an Othona West Dorset project in 2008. Having the support and encouragement of this respected trust means a lot to us. Thank you!... Read More
Othona West Dorset – the best seaside retreat on the south coast?
Creativity, community, spirituality… and fun!
10% off for newcomers applies to all residential bookings from 24 May to 30 August 2019
Here are a few you might like!
Bags of Creativity Sewing as a creative meditative gift (May 24-26)
Thomas Hardy Confidential Secret loves of his life? Exploring... Read More
Hee Hee! Not our bread exactly. Leakers Bakery is the main supplier of Othona West Dorset's bread and they have been recognised as one of Britain's 20 best bakeries in The Daily Telegraph (30.3.2019). No surprise to us!
Food has a central place in the ethos of Othona. We encourage everyone to value and enjoy preparing food and eating together, not only as a pleasure in itself but also as a powerful symbol (a ‘sacrament’) of community.
We have a polytunnel for salads, an orchard and a soft fruit cage. We serve homemade jams, marmalades and chutneys, as well as honey from beehives right here in our... Read More
Swim against the tide of our throwaway society! Our multi-skilled, multi-creative housekeeper and core member, Kate Ross will be facilitating her first Othona workshop in May, Bags of Creativity, joined by ace seamstress Jane Parker and our beloved local mindfulness teacher Sue Howse. They will be offering an experiential exploration of creativity and meditative mindfulness - and fun!
Kate has been beautifying and rediscovering many forgotten gems here at Othona West Dorset. Everything from picture hanging and curtain making to mixing moisturisers, furniture polish and mead from our honey and bees wax.
Keep a look out for future... Read More
Have you seen our new highlights (and old favourites) this year?
Thomas Hardy Confidential - early love life and poetry of Dorset's great novelist: talks, visits, walks, folk dance (June 12-16)
Listening to the Green Heartbeat - nature-based retreat (June 20-23)
See, Love, Be - mindfulness and the spiritual life (July 3-7)
Four varied family-... Read More
On 16 August 2018, Othona will have the pleasure of presenting the beautiful music of the creative, warm and funny soul that is Joanna Eden, who is in the South West launching her new album, 'Truth Tree'.
In a twenty year career, Joanna Eden has shared stages with The Buena Vista Social Club, Jamie Cullum, The Blockheads and Ronan Keating as well as her superstar student Sam Smith who was her backing singer as a teenager. The Grammy and Oscar winning artist has cited Joanna simply as “The reason I sing”. Sam studied with Joanna for nine years although she laughs:
“It didn’t feel like teaching or studying, we... Read More
In January 2018, the National Trust published a report, the results of which proved that places have a powerful effect on us.
More than 2,000 people were interviewed to find out what special places mean to them: for many, childhood memories or a link to loved ones creates a special attachment to a particular place.
Surprisingly, for over 40% of those surveyed, their meaningful places were recent discoveries.
Whether alone or in company, these are places to relax, enjoy nature, or simply get away from our... Read More
Ever been told that you can't sing? But always wanted to? Well, now you can!
NOT just for experienced warblers, our Summer Sizzler Singing Weekend (6th-8th July) offers wannabe singers the chance to exercise their vocal cords in the company of friendly and like-minded folk.
Renowned singing teachers Nick Petts* and Jon Conway** will lead us on a musical journey sampling a range of styles from sacred chants to pop anthems. No need to read music; we learn by ear and we practise until we're word-perfect! (well, almost :))
The weekend... Read More