London Gatherings
In 2022 we built an eco-house in North London, designing the simple living space so that it was adaptable for us to run small gatherings and activities. This ‘Gathering Space’ was launched in November 2025 with a one day workshop to celebrate the end of Autumn and the turn to winter.
Rachel will be hosting regular workshops in the Gathering Space throughout 2026, each of these will involve taking part in creative and thought provoking activities. The aim of these one day gatherings is to work together to find deeper meanings in our increasingly technological driven, polarised lives, connect to nature whilst living in an urban environment, and build our resilience for the future.
Each gathering will include some time spent outdoors (weather permitting), some writing and sketching, and an arts and craft making session (using the artist’s mixed media material collection, including clay and textiles). There will be opportunities to share ideas, stories and thinking in response to the themes, and a celebratory seasonal meal together.
Please note that we have two small cats who might come in and out of the Gathering Space. If you are interested in attending but allergic or concerned about this please contact us. The Gathering Space has limited access for wheelchair users but we are working on improving this, please contact us to discuss this further if required.
This page will be updated with the dates for the next gatherings as they are released.
Celebrating Signs of Spring 2026
Date: Saturday 28th February
Time: 10.00am – 5.30pm
Location: The Gathering Space, North London, N8
Cost: £45 Full Price
£30 Concessions/Self Employed/Low Income
A one day gathering to celebrate the early signs of spring. Join us for a relaxing day in a beautiful environment – full of conviviality, eating good healthy, seasonal food and taking part in creative and thought provoking activities. This gathering will focus on storytelling, myths and rituals, creating and collaborating in an open, fun and friendly space. To celebrate spring being on the way we will search for signs of flowers, growth and change, including the Lesser Celandines that are expected to flower on Celandine Day, the 21st February. The activities for the gatherings aim to move away from talking and debate to explore more gentle and positive ways of imaginative thinking and making. The creative activities include writing and storytelling, sketching, art and craft making, and exploring sustainable and mindful uses of technology. No previous experience is required and the gatherings aim to be as inclusive as possible. An assistant will be available (particularly for any outdoor activities) and a seasonal homemade vegetarian lunch and refreshments will be provided, we will take into account different dietary requirements.
Schedule:
This schedule will vary depending on the weather but shows the variety of activities that will happen on the day.
Please make sure you arrive before 10.15 so we can start promptly.
10.00 – 10.15 Arrival and refreshments
10.15 – 11.15 Introductions and sharing things we bring with us about the turn from winter to spring
11.15- 11.45 A short meditation and stretching
11.45 – 1.00 Searching for signs of spring – there will be different options for doing this outdoor activity either on the Parkland Walk or at the Gathering Space.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch, interspersed with seasonal rituals and activities
2.00 – 3.30 Sharing and writing stories together and hand making them into books to mark winter turning to spring
3.30 – 4.00 Refreshments
3.45 – 5.00 Finishing the stories and preparing for the future
5.00 – 5.30 Planting seeds for the spring
If you would like to book a place, have any questions or require concessions please complete the form below.
Book A Place
Launch of the Gathering Space – Autumn 2025
The first gathering took place on Saturday 29th November.
“The Autumn Convivial Gathering yesterday was such a brilliant event, not like anything I have experienced before. It felt like you invited us to follow you out of the mundanity of everyday life to create something really special together. You gave us so much – the warmth and safety that allowed a group of strangers to almost immediately connect and be open with one another, rich new ways of thinking about how we live our lives (including through making shared artworks – that was quite a revelation!), the space to stop and experience nature. The amazing home-made lunch and sweet treats throughout the day were an added and extremely delicious bonus – all part of the care and generosity that made it such a memorable experience. It was a day of light, revelation, colour, laughter, play and connection – truly convivial. I left feeling that you had helped us to discover a doorway into the possibility of more meaningful ways of living. What a gift, thank you Rachel.” (Posted with permission from the participant)
What Happened on the Day:
Introductions, grounding meditation and a quick stretch
A visit to the Parkland Walk, human sensing (group activity), sketching & writing (individual activity)
Being Autumnal – using what was found outdoors and what people brought with them to explore ways to celebrate the Autumn and prepare for winter
Seasonal Celebration Lunch & tea and cake
Creating the Future (using the artist’s materials to explore, through making together, how we can participate in creating the future we want)
Finishing off, sharing what we have made, planting a seed for the spring to take home and concluding the day
Menu:
Refreshments:
Home and locally made biscuits, seasonal fruit and a selection of teas, coffee and juice.
Lunch:
Homemade seasonal vegetarian pie with potatoes and salads
Seasonal cake, fruit & vegan ice cream
