As we move into the Summer months, what better way to savour the longer (warmer) days than by taking a wander through the woods. Originally part of the Great North Wood, Stambourne Woods is a woodland in Crystal Palace, covering just 4.75 acres. It is a small urban oasis running from Church Road, opposite the Queen’s Hotel, down the hill to Auckland Road.
Syanne (she/her) is the founder and host of the Queer 'n Cosy Club, she is also a dedicated yoga teacher, rest advocate, creative and community collaborator. She feels most herself in quiet community, in the sunshine or anywhere with a big cup of tea.
What to expect
This will be an afternoon of sensory exploration, nature mapping/journalling and quiet reflection, overall immersing ourselves in this local hidden gem of woodland space. We'll assemble at the start of the walk on Church Road, take the sloping path down to the midpoint of the trail where we'll set up for our first practice. Sy will start the session with a short sensory meditation designed to slow down the “busyness” of the mind and connect with our natural surroundings. Sy will then offer a brief introduction to some nature journalling practices, prompts and mapping techniques before we split up to explore, rest and journal in the woods. We'll come back together for a final round of reflections and tea before our farewells.
What to bring
We’ll have some pens and paper available but please bring your journal and favourite writing/recording tools. As this gathering is outdoors, please dress appropriately. Comfortable clothing/footwear and easy to change layers should the temperature fluctuate. While the area is fairly sheltered by trees, suncream is always advised. Please bring water plus any snacks or nibbles - maybe even a light picnic if you plan on staying after the session has concluded. There are some logs available but blankets, cushions or camping chairs are recommended. As always, feel free to bring anything else you may need to feel present in the space.
What we have planned
2:00pm | Meet at Stambourne Woods Church Road Entrance
2:05pm | Walk to our “Cosy Corner” of the woods
2:15pm | Welcome & Sensory Meditation
2:25pm | Introduction to Nature Journalling
2:35pm | Journalling Time/Explore the Woods
3:05pm | Reflections & Tea
3:30pm | Farewells
Accessibility
This offering is being held at Stambourne Woods which is not fully accessible, however efforts will be made to accommodate specific accessibility needs if brought to our attention ahead of time. We may be able to offer online slots for folks looking to join remotely. There is on street parking on neighbouring roads and the closest restroom facilities are available at The White Hart which is approximately 8mins walk away.
The entire trail is 482.8 M long. It is a one way trail which slopes downwards with a 28M change in elevation and gradient of 1:17. We will be setting up our “Cosy Corner” basecamp approximately 259M from the start. At the start of the trail from Church Road, we follow a paved road to the entrance of the woods. From here, the rest of the journey is a maintained wide dirt path. This can be slippery when wet. Please wear appropriate footwear, as the gradient can be challenging. There are clearings for sitting and picnics and generous tree cover this time of year. We will have some mats and blankets for seating on the floor (picnic setup) and as well as chairs available upon request. Photos of the trail can be found on the main website or via googlemaps. Do not attend if you are feeling unwell, have symptoms or could be COVID positive. If you have any queries or requests, please contact us here.
About our ticket fees
For all our offerings we have a tiered suggestion of donations. Supporter Rate (cost of you and another), Sustainer Rate (base cost/just you), Community Rate and Pay What You Can. These donations help cover any expenses for our gatherings, cover facilitator fees with any excess donated to fundraisers & mutual aid. Please consider your available resources and financial privilege when selecting what to donate as spaces are limited. You can find out more about sliding scale pricing here.
We also reserve full scholarship spaces. If none of the pricing options above are accessible and you’d like to attend, just drop Sy a message directly to book a scholarship space.