Ever since her arrival at this site on the edge of the Forest of Dean, Jules Heron has worked hard to protect and enhance its natural prowess. Amid rich greens and thick mature hedgerows, a labyrinth of paths and stone circles now weave, leading you around the glamping site she has created and revealing its incredible beauty. More than 1,000 trees have been planted in the last two decades and a series of smaller meadows are now accompanied by an orchard, a nut wood, an organic vegetable garden and a sunken, hidden garden. Dotted among it all are just five glamping abodes, each tucked in their own private eden. It's a truly magical place.
In essence, this lush, wild garden is really just an extension of the Forest of Dean. The rich woodland starts just metres away, at the bottom of the track, and the campsite is like a halfway-house between the untouched forest on one side and the farmland of rural Gloucestershire on the other. Its proximity to the forest also makes the place a boon for wildlife. There are frogs, dragonflies, owls, rabbits, shrews, buzzards, peregrine falcons, and a whole lot more. If you're particularly quiet you may spot deer flitting among the trees or even strolling right through the campsite itself.
The accommodation fits subtly amid the landscape. Comprised of yurts and nomad-style canvas tents, they are finished with the utmost attention to detail. Lanterns, rugs and quirky little bohemian touches create a relaxing interior, with comfy beds and sofas. The whole thing has a real affinity with the outdoors, with wood used extensively in many of the furniture designs, including the bedsteads and chairs, echoing the forest outside.
The proximity to nature is certainly a big part of the appeal here and was also the main reason that Jules moved here many years ago. The tranquil ambience allows for a real break from the daily grind, with the bustle of cities replaced by the rustle of leaves – all aided by the therapy options Jules provides. You can book a fireside massage or choose a treatment to enjoy in the comfort of your yurt, while two of the pitches – Glade Yurt and Bedouin Tent – each have their very own hot tub too!
Whether your venturing through the Forest of Dean and down to the banks of the River Wye (a gorgeous walk that you must do at some point during your stay) or sinking into the bubbles of the hot tub, this is a place where you can really kick back and soak it all in. It's as if every tree has been planted with a purpose – placed hither and thither to create individually enclosed gardens. Yet a real sense of wilderness rules, as if nothing was planted by man at all.