25-10 - Flipbook - Page 93
October 2025
Rixon suffered a mental breakdown. His marriage dissolved. He was in a dark place for years.
Then a friend suggested he attend a retreat at Embercombe, a rewilding estate in Devon that
focuses on inner growth through nature connection. The workshop and subsequent therapy
helped Rixon shift his mindset "from egocentric to ecocentric". He asked himself, "How can I use
our farm to help tackle the big crises 3 the mental health crisis which I've gone through, the biodiversity crisis, the climate crisis?"
Now, Rixon is regenerating Lopemede's historic wildflower meadows and wetland habitat,
planting trees and hedges, and creating feeding grounds for threatened bird species. On the
farm, he launched an art-themed forest school, a sauna and cold plunge experience, a cafe in
a barn and a theatre that presents nature-inspired shows. He started Future Oaks, an organisation aimed at restoring children's connection to food, farming and nature.
Rixon also teamed up with Jess and Greg Symondson, who were on their own growth journey.
Jess grew up on a farm nearby and wanted to work in harmony with the seasons. Greg was
searching for a more fulfilling career. "I want to make people happy, and I want to be there to
share in that happiness," he says. "That was the spark that led to what we're doing now 3 bringing people together for good times in nature."
The couple launched Firelight, a wellbeing events business based at Lopemede. They bring
lighthearted fun to experiences such as sound bath meditations, men's and women's sharing
circles, sweat lodge ceremonies, breathwork journeys and alfresco feasts at communal tables.
As Lopemede shows, farms offer fertile ground for wellness entrepreneurship. Fields can double
as slightly lumpy yet atmospheric yoga studios. Barns boast amazing acoustics for gong baths.
The landscapes offer myriad opportunities to try out concepts and discover what works.
Building community in a barn
About 28km south-west of central London, Emily and Charlie Woodall needed to diversify their
family's tenant farm because growing grain alone couldn't pay the bills. So they started The Barn
KT9, which has incubated a series of wellness-focused ideas.
Emily, a personal trainer, opened a female-focused gym at The Barn KT9 during the pandemic.
It now has 260 members and hosts around 60 classes each week, including pregnancy yoga,
postnatal Pilates and weightlifting for everyone from teens to seniors. "Having that female environment has been really supportive because it's built this lovely community," Emily says. "People
who come to the gym go for coffee, lunches, baby showers and each other's weddings."
The couple converted a derelict barn into a resonant space for sound bath meditations. Here,
mothers bliss out with their babies amid shimmering crystal harps and families are soothed by
singing bowls beneath the glow of candles and moonlight. Once a month, a psychotherapist
leads "Offload the Motherload", a sharing circle where mothers can chat about anxiety or burnout. During Barn Hangouts, experts host talks on topics such as switching careers or legal rights
regarding maternity leave.
The Barn KT9 has become an unlikely success. Onsite parking is available only for people attending the gym or pre-booked events. Those visiting the cafe in a shipping container in a field
or the frequent food truck evenings must walk 20 to 30 minutes from public parking lots or 10
minutes from a bus stop. Yet people welcome the chance for fresh air and exercise. On a Monday morning in August, the cafe bustled with dog walkers and families sipping iced lattes. On a
recent Tuesday evening, the food truck sold 140 pizzas in two hours. Their glamping site attracts
travellers from as far away as Beijing.
WARNING
Yoga is a form of spiritualism and the Christian should not
practice or participate in yoga or similar activities.
This article was included to show how an Adventist outpost
can serve as a place of Christ-centered, Biblical healing.
