Description
Whether you own your own business or work for someone else, you’ve probably found yourself having to work in a different way over the past few years.
Working approaches have certainly become more flexible with work-from-home, hybrid models, and flexi-working becoming the norm these days.
And while for many of us there are many benefits, you may have also experienced some challenges along the way.
Maybe you find yourself relating to some of these challenges.
- Blurred boundaries with work and life.
- A greater effort to self-motivate and focus.
- Longer screen times.
- Communication challenges (at work and home).
- Less movement and task variation.
- Disconnection from teams & people.
- Displacement of roles and expectations.
- Isolation and Loneliness.
- Struggle to ‘switch off’ from work mode.
Introducing – Wild Workspaces. A co-working pop-up event in nature, bringing a community of workers together.
A new culture to remote & co-working. A refreshing and relaxing space to find focus, get stuff done, and reconnect. In stunningly beautiful locations guaranteed to inspire.
Wild Workspaces was forged from the light and shade of two years of change in working styles.
The light – with more flexibility and the opportunity to enhance your well-being. The Wild Workspace events invite you to change perspective and discover new views (literally). Balancing focused productivity whilst creating space to prioritise well-being.
The shade – with more people reporting loneliness, isolation, and disconnection; and added stresses and pressures in work and life. Wild Work spaces aim to promote a healthy working culture by reconnecting you with a sense of community, a relaxed ‘nucleus’ for re-energised task completion. To help you to feel good about what you do, and who you are!
With added benefits for mind and body when you surround yourself with nature.
The concept is simple
A ‘Pop up’ co-working space for you. Step out of the office, and back into inspirational and relaxing locations and mindsets.
People and Planet health are at the core of what we do at Where the Mind Grows, and we believe we all have a place in nature.
Our Wild Workspaces may not have ALL the mod-cons you have come to expect in your working day. Instead giving you permission to minimise distractions, ‘rest your tech’ and attune your attention. Switch off ‘busy’. A calm and clear mind, to do things differently.
Simplicity is the theme of our events. Helping you find a simple, still and spacious setting to work creatively, calmly, or productively – You Choose!
What happens at a Wild Workspaces event.
Each venue has varying levels of ‘Off-the-grid’ provisions from ‘Nature-Chic’ with onsite cafes, internet, and seating, to ‘Back-to-Basics’ – off-grid, pop-up seating, and compost loos.
You will know when you sign up to each venue, what’s available for you there. (Check out the details in the description below)
On arriving for your allotted session time ( Half or Full Day Tickets available) . A designated Wild Workspace Host will welcome you and make sure you have the information you need to get comfortable and focused for your day.
You will have access to refreshments throughout the day and we schedule in Mid Morning and Mid Afternoon break where we encourage you to pause your tasks and mingle with the community – though if you prefer to keep yourself to yourself we will certainly allow you that protected time and space.
You will have the space to manage yourself and your working day – leaving you with time to focus. We do offer a rough structure and some connection time & spaces for those who would like to engage with this.
Example Wild Workspace Day.
AM Co-Working Space from 09:00 -13:00
PM Co -Working Space from 13:00-17:00
Full Day Co- Working from 09:00-17:00
BREW TIME/ INFORMAL NETWORKING – 11:00-11:30 & 15:00-15:30
Connection & Networking time -LUNCH AND LEARNS/NIBBLE & NATTER TIME – 12:30-13:30pm
OUR HALF DAY FLEXI TICKET ENSURES 4 HOURS OF CO-WORKING TIME ARRIVING AT A TIME THAT BETTER SUITS YOUR SHEDULE!
Our aim is that Wild Workspaces offer quiet, uninterrupted spaces for you to find focus and flow. All our community members are asked to read and agree to our Wild Workspaces Culture in preparation for attending. To ensure a respectful and supportive community space.
Read our Wild Workspaces Culture and Community Agreement HERE
WHO ARE OUR WILD WORKSPACE EVENTS FOR?
We aim to make our Wild Workspaces events accessible and inclusive.
Co-working is ideal for:
- Solopreneurs/Business Owners and Freelancers
- Remote & Hybrid Workers
- Students
- Artists/Crafts/Creatives
- Authors/Writers
- Small Teams looking to meet in Nature
Five Tasks/Actvities to inspire your day
- Content & Socials
- Proofing & Editing
- Strategy & Planning
- Creative Tasks
- Reading/Learning/Studying
- Time out for Personal Well-being
Wild Workspaces was an idea from Where the Mind Grows Founder JK (Jennie-Kate) McQuinn – At where the mind grows we do everything we can to help more people access time in nature for their health, well-being and personal growth, through our coaching, team facilitation experiences, retreats and events. Reaping so many benefits spending our days working outside , hearing so many people tell us how they wanted more of their week in nature, but never found the time…… WILD WORKSPACES was created.
Whilst we launched in Yorkshire in 2023 Where the Mind Grows our collaborating with other amazing organisations who ‘get it’ when it comes to the value and importance of human and nature interconnection – and we are delighted to announce our FIRST HUB HOSTED EVENT IN DERBYSHIRE – co-hosted with Sarah Spencer from Think Like A Tree.
You can find out more about JK and Where the Mind Grows here
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MORE ABOUT THE JUNE WILD WORKSPACES EVENT IN DERBYSHIRE!
Our June Wild Workspaces is our first hub host event – outside of Yorkshire. We are delighted to be collaborating with Sarah Spencer (Think Like A Tree) to co-host this event on Where the Mind Grows behalf.
A bit about co-host -of our hub event in Derbyshire – Sarah:
Sarah’s experience in business, organisations, charities, social enterprises as an entrepreneur spans decades. The common thread is the purpose-led nature of her work, for people and planet.
Sarah is founder of Think like a Tree and facilitator for individuals and organisations wishing to transition to regenerative, nature-inspired ways of living and working.
A former legal she is a founder member, former chair and lead permaculture designer of Whistlewood Common, a community woodland social enterprise in south Derbyshire.
She is a trained Forest School Leader, Mental Health First Aider and is trained in regenerative leadership and permaculture.
Sarah lives in south Derbyshire with her family on their smallholding where they have planted woodlands, forest gardens, veg gardens, orchards, dug ponds and rewilded areas.
JK and Sarah met through the Think Like A Tree facilitators programme and have gone on to co-create and co-deliver Think Like A Forest: Regenerative Business Experience & Adventure!
Sarah loved the idea of an extra excuse to help connect people back with nature. And we are delighted to have her as our first Wild Workspaces Hub Host.
ABOUT THIS VENUE- Wild Workspaces June Meeting – Whistlewood Common
Whistlewood is a ten-acre community-owned Woodland in Melbourne, South Derbyshire.
The site is designed along permaculture principles (a sustainable design framework) so that it will work for people, for wildlife and be a welcoming space for people of all ages and backgrounds.
The site also hosts events that bring our community closer, to make it a better place to live and help us face future challenges.
How did it come about?
In 2013 ten acres of land came up for sale in Melbourne in South Derbyshire. Members of the local Transition group wondered if it would be possible to do something really exciting with it. What if we could create a community woodland where everything was edible or otherwise useful for our community? And in the same space help people understand how to live more sustainably, appreciate nature and the outdoors, and hold events that would bring our community closer to face future challenges.
So, with the support of the National Forest Company, a co-operative society was formed and shares were sold to enable the land purchase to become a reality. Shares, from £50 upwards were sold to local people, but word spread and we gained supporters all around the world who were inspired by what we were doing.
Since purchasing the land we’ve built our wonderful Roundhouse and other structures, planted and maintained thousands of trees, installed paths to ensure access for all, created a community garden, started our Forest Garden, held hundreds of events, formed working groups, engaged with the community, welcomed people young and old, and much more…
A solid business plan is behind everything we do and the project will be sustainable long-term, financially as well as environmentally.
People young and old love the site as somewhere they can feel relaxed and close to nature, and can be part of the solution, not the problem.
Practicalities for the event
Whistlewood is a back to basics, back to Nature venue.
There is unlikely to be much reception and no internet at this venue.
Some limited power access run, off grid. So we encourage you to plan your working day and activities around this consideration and charge laptops and electronic equipment in advance of attending.
There are compost toilets onsite.
We will have a camp fire and camp stoves on the day and their is access to running water to make a brew, though we encourage you to bring your own bottle of water too.
There is space inside the round house for working with tables and chairs and plenty of outdoor areas, to grab a blanket or bring your own camping chair to work from on the day.
A sheltered outdoor area with chairs and tables, near the allotment/veg areas is also a great space to look out on the world.
Or you can wander round the orchard and amongst the trees.
There is free parking onsite or access through public transport – The number 2 bus service operates between Derby and Swadlincote. These currently run every hour. Link to Arriva webpage (What3Words abruptly.sprains.healers is the stop nearest us from the direction of Derby – ‘The Common’ and decreased.mint.tangling is the stop nearest from the direction of Swadlincote – ‘opposite Bog Lane’)
The nearest train station is: Derby (please note – the no.2 bus doesn’t go directly from the train station). Taxis take approximately 25 minutes to get here – it’s 8.5 miles from the station.
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Over lunch 12:30-13:30pm there is the opportunity to break away from your work and connect over lunch. Your Wild Workspace Host usually introduces a theme to these discussions to help people explore the topic and get to know fellow wilders better. This networking space is optional so feel free to skip it if you’d prefer some time alone.
Just a reminder we have Full ( 09:00-17:00) and Half Day tickets available AM/PM (or 4 Hour FLEXI)
(Please note the café and farm sections of the venue close at 4pm)
There is plenty of opportunity to learn more about nature here so we will have TREE and NATURE ID books available for those curious and connected minds among you!
Please bring with you:
- Laptop/Notebooks/Pens and other equipment/supplies you wish to work on. (Electric supply is limited so please pre-charge electronic devices before attending)
- Lunch and snacks
- Wallet/cash/card if wanting to purchase lunch/snacks from café
- Reusable mug/Water Bottle & crockery if staying for lunch/planning to eat
- Comfortable clothes and layers; and blanket/hot water bottle/grain pad -if you like to be snuggly while you work.
- Any medication or accessibility aids you require throughout the day.
Read our Wild Workspaces Culture and Community Agreement HERE
NO DOGS FOR OUR EVENTS PLEASE – TO ENABLE CONSISTENCY ACROSS OUR VENUES.
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