WINTER SOLSTICE

The winter solstice, occurring around December 23rd, marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s a moment of deep stillness, a turning point when the earth begins its gradual tilt back toward the sun. For centuries, cultures worldwide have celebrated this event, seeing it as a time of renewal and hope.

The solstice reminds us that even in the darkest moments, the promise of light is never far away. As the days slowly lengthen, the increasing daylight feels like a gift—a gentle nudge toward spring and the vitality it brings. The joy of lighter evenings creeping back into our lives inspires a sense of optimism, offering more time to linger outdoors, reconnect with nature, and embrace the energy of the changing seasons.

The winter solstice is not just an end but a beginning—a celebration of resilience and the ever-returning light.

Focus on the Positive.

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Mastering Anxiety.

 

The weight of Addiction

 

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A GOOD PLACE TO BE.

 

Spending Christmas in a conservation area surrounded by nature is a fantastic idea! It can be a great way to appreciate the beauty of nature and get away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. 

To make the most of your experience, you should consider researching the area and the wildlife that lives there. You could also look into any ABC activities or events that might be happening .

Without conservation there is not mushroom for anything else.

You could even bring along some birdseed and feed the birds to make the experience even more special.

However, it's important to remember to respect the environment and be mindful of your impact. 

Have a wonderful Christmas in a conservation area!

Time to take time and space.

Reflecting on the pandemic and reviewing your place in the ‘new norm’ post lockdown, can be scary.

 

The benefits of spending time outside and connecting with Mother Nature are many. Surveys have described the benefits in relation to: growth, health and wellbeing, cultural and emotional growth and attitudes.

 

A day retreat amongst nature is both beneficial to yourself and the environment and can be used as an opportunity to learn about your role in the world.

Many times we can we can get lost or over burdened the with life’s responsibilities but when we are in nature, our minds become more open and receptive to new ideas.

We can also use nature to teach us about life and our role in it and how to live it. This is why we are so grateful for nature because of its ability to help anyone in an emotional quandary.

 

The natural world provides us with a lot of opportunities.

 We can find where we are by looking at the emotions wheel and ask ourselves whether we want to remain where we are, or change?

 

We think that if we are able to look at the emotions wheel and see our emotions as they really exist, they will help us understand what they mean.

We believe that we need to be more aware of our environment and to be looking outside of ourselves and to give Mother Nature a chance to help us heal and for us to contribute back to Nature.

Health and well being during the past 15 years has had a growing body of research which does suggest that direct frequent experience of being outside particularly in contact with nature produces positive mental and emotional benefits for everyone.

 

There are times and places to be noisy or active or to be quiet and reflective.

By doing conservation work outdoors, we learn about relationships and develop communication skills that are effective along with producing a feeling of well being and regaining our peace of mind.

RCT

All Minds Matter.

Meditation.

Breathing exercises

 to reduce stress during the pandemic. 

 

Try slow breathing exercises in a safe well ventilated area or out in nature when you can. 

Take a couple of deep breaths initially to help ground the mind and create space, for new inner peace.

This practice may have a profound effect on your state of mind and should increase mindfulness and awareness.

 Daily practice often improves the quality of your meditation practice, allowing the breath to flow through your body naturally. 

Taking time to let go of unwanted thoughts and fears and learning to breath may help to deal with the days trials and tribulations, resulting in a better sleep at night.

Take care everyone,

From all at ABC

Please feel free to share our links of the abc website.

RCT.

Beyond the Autumn Equinox .

Moving into October and past the Autumn Equinox means the nights are closing: The equinox is thought to represent: "the period of struggle between darkness and light, death and life spiritually. It occurs when the night and day are equal.

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We have just had our Harvest Moon and this has related to the timing of the autumnal equinox (September 22, 2020), with the full Moon that occurs nearest to the equinox being the one to take on the name “Harvest Moon.”

Their have been various studies on the effect on humans during periods of a full moon; especially those people with mental illness or how many crimes and fatalities occur during a full moon.Neurotic behaviour and accidents are also linked to the full Moon and could be subjective but fascinating all the same.

There is the age old theory that suggests since the Moon affects large bodies of water such as the ocean (tidal force) it must influence the human body which is approximately 60% water. Coming out of a full moon people can feel energised. 

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 Bats are thought to hunt by the silvery moon. Bats can be seen often best in autumn as the temperature begins to fall and the nights draw in, many of the small mammals that live in our fields, woodlands and hedgerows forage for extra food to store over the winter and look for a suitable site (a hibernaculum) to hole up in for the coldest part of the year. Other small creatures mice, voles, shrews and Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are also eating vast quantities of food to build up fat reserves which will carry them through to the spring.

  

Following this period of feasting or gluttony they retreat to somewhere suitably warm and safe to try to enter into a period of hibernation, which can last for up to four months of the year depending on the harshness of the Autumnal change in temperatures.

Also in autumn bats relocate to hibernation roosts and crevices looking for a constant temperature and to avoid frosts and freezing conditions e.g. caves, trees and built structures such as outhouse and barns perhaps. 

And it’s not just small mammals that hibernate:  Queen bees dig in for the winter and also some species of moths and butterflies, like the Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina) which hunker down in grassy tussocks. Many of our reptiles and amphibians also hibernate. Adders find warmer crevices under boulders or in dry stone walls so be careful. Newt species spend the winter in the muddy banks of ponds, under paving slabs, piles of wood or in a handy compost heap.

 

Common Toads (Bufo bufo)  are thought to sleep out the winter buried deep in damp places such as leaf piles or compost heaps, before emerging to travel back to their traditional breeding sites in early spring such as the moorland ponds.

 

The Common Frog (Rana temporaria) which needs to keep damp is able to partially freeze in its state of hibernation before thawing out in spring. Occasionally such species come out of hibernation during any short sunny spells in the winter to make the most of the weak sunshine, only to return to their hiding place when the temperature falls again.

So spare a thought for our wildlife that’s out there sleeping through the winter, hidden away from view deep in their retreats, practising their own life saving techniques and waiting for the first signs of spring and hope as we make our way through the various lunar cycles from now till then. 

"Meditation is a great way to help stay in the now. Conservation preserves the future."

RCT

Life goes on.

 

The heather is holding on as summer draws to an end and wildlife starts to prepare for the approaching winter, eating more or stockpiling reserves.

Countries across Europe are seeing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases after successfully slowing outbreaks early in the year including the United Kingdom, which is worrying as the abnormal has now become normal.

We don’t know how strong the coronavirus comeback will be and how this compares to the infection numbers seen in the spring?

 It could be the result of more tests being done, who knows but it is important to stay safe and the need for time and space becomes Important.

We have not been able to be at Lime tree farm or any of us at ABC.

However, the skills learned and memories of people who have come on courses and those who have sadly passed away are still with us and can be touched upon in the nature that is all around us even in urban areas.Breeding waders (golden plover, lapwings, and curlew), leaving for the coast or pastures new. Wildlife makes most of the autumn food at this time with abundant rowan berries and blackberries.

THRUSH

Bright red rowan berries will be hanging heavy on the trees in woodland edges, and some parks. Open Moorland and hedgerows are a great place to roam.

REDWING

Sometimes it can be rewarding to see hungry birds like redwing, fieldfare, ring ouzels, and waxwings gorging on the fruits. Blackberries are magnificent at this time and if you stand still you may see field mice(also known as wood mice)foxes, and badgers who have a taste for them too.

 Apple trees, in late September, are a fantastic place to see birds and are a great habitat for bees, moths, butterflies and hoverflies, all feasting on the fallen fruits. This abundance of insects also attracts feeding bats in the cooling nights.

This is still a time to grow and be in the here and now,to be still and to feel the breath of life all around us along with our loved ones and neighbours.

 Meditation Mindfulness and conservation is everywhere if we take the time to breath and appreciate the things we all have just for today.

Keep safe,take care

RCT.

H.old - O.n - P.ain - E.nds. (HOPE)

The coronavirus is no longer far away in China or Italy. It’s here, affecting over ninety countries, and it continues to spread worldwide with new cases cropping up daily. It’s all over the news hour by hour and there is a tangible sense of anxiety, stress, and uncertainty in the air. 

The mindfulness techniques we have learned and practiced at Lime Tree Farm have given us hope against some of the fears we face:

Our legitimate concern for vulnerable loved ones. 

Worries about working with colleagues and our future job roles and finances as stock markets collapse. 

Even popping to the supermarket has become anxiety-filled. This feeling of uncertainty and fear is one that we all recognize at a basic level, deep within our subconscious. 

We are in this for the long haul together and as more people fall ill, it is likely the changes to our lives will continue to increase; we need to find ways to cope (including what may seem like simple steps - recognizing the Spring, seeing the new daffodils, a sea of fragrant and beautiful bluebells).

Nature is a healer as temperatures rise and Easter is around the corner.

Metaphorical sunlight comes into our hearts and minds accompanied by the real sound of lapwings, pink cherry blossom dancing in the breeze (if only for a short while). Newborn animals are at their cutest, gentle reminders that everything has its season. A closer look and meadow flowers, buttercups, yellow rattle, eyebright, common sorrel, pignut, and red clover are a real sight to see.

At our location all this set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, to the majestic sounds of pairs of curlews, dancing up and down the April sky.

The name of the curlew is derived from the bird’s distinctive ‘curl-oo’ call that can often be heard on and off the moors. As they return to the breeding areas their characteristic call is a meditation in itself.

Breath, take a moment to embrace the now.

 Take a minute to reframe, to refocus.

  

Perhaps ask yourself what you can do to put "sunshine" into the world, positively affecting others in your community in this testing time. 

We at ABC are still attempting to be available for your support at this time (obviously there is a limit to what our resources can do; we are always willing to have volunteers to our project).

 Please call us on - Tel'+447851448812
or email - timeandspaceretreats@gmail.com 

Solo Day 8th February 2020.

We had had a gorgeous Solo day up in this (AONB) area of outstanding natural beauty in North Yorkshire. This Solo day was part of our efforts to improve local woodland planted a decade ago on the edges of the field surrounding the stone circle.

The day was started with a period of deep reflection and meditation, our chance to take in the local flora and fauna at this wonderful location, on the eve of storm Ciara.

The nature reserve was previously planted with oak, ash, holly and silver birch, larch, beech, and copper beech. When these were planted we fitted each with a Tubex tree guard for protection. These tree guards have played a large part in the successful growth of the trees.

The guard is a plastic tube fitted around the tree and this is 'whip' size (the whip is the name for it when it's still a young seedling) and held in place with a small stake and plastic ties. This can be seen on fresh plantations across the land and whilst tree planting can be seen as a valuable antidote to global warming and the survival of the planet although plastic disposal is still problematic.

The tree guard is designed to protect against local herbivores, such as sheep and deer, it stands in place to encourage the tree to grow a strong trunk before it branches out and provide an environment that helps the tree grow strong. This makes a massive difference in the tree's early years and if at any time you are planting woodland these guards were seen to be a must.

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Our solo day consisted of centering ourselves in nature through meditation and mindfully cutting the guards off, and removal of the plastic, since the trees are now established. 

The tree replacement level in the wood is minimal due to these guards, but if they were left on any longer they inhibit the tree's growth, this would have the opposite of their desired effect as the tree gets larger. Now that the trees are tall and strong, local wildlife on the nature reserve poses much less of a threat.

As the trees will be left to carry on growing for another couple of years we will then need to go in and cut the side branches off to encourage upward straight tree growth. Trees naturally grow more at the top, and so chopping off the lower branches encourages this upwards growth, creating trees that are tall and strong, not having to support lower down branches.

Would you like to be a Volunteer?

The next part of the project for ABC is to attract some volunteers to the site to help us put a path through and adjacent wood down to an old chestnut tree to help the wider community use it more and to help them understand the importance of conservation.

We aim long term to fundraise to build a treehouse for the site and all efforts would be greatly appreciated.

Dry January and Beyond. (2020.)

This January we at ABC are available to help you in this resolution and ask, could you do Dry January and extend to February too, as thousands of adults in the UK already take part in Dry January.

Starting on the first day of the month, participants vow to go 31 days without alcohol as a resolution that has been previously endorsed by Cancer Research UK and Alcohol Change UK.

ABC provides a great space to come and have some time out to discuss with you an extension to this as a concept.

Why not?

Reasons for taking part have been documented, with people focussing on the health benefits, including weight loss, decreased risk of diseases including cancer and improvements to mental health. But what about an extension is it worth it? 

Could I do it?

Yes, you could do it. You could easily calculate the calories and money you could be saving, as well as monitor your year-round drinking habits by starting with an extra month as well as placing yourself in the mindset of people who have abstained due to dependency issues.

Tips for those who need a little help staying on the wagon include going on long walks, taking up a hobby or trying a non-alcoholic version of your favourite drink or try cleaning and washing up to keep extra busy. 

Is it really worth it?

The benefits of Dry January are the subject of an ongoing debate among doctors and scientists as recent reports are from Alcohol Change UK who report that in 2018, “88% of participants saved money, 71% had better sleep and more energy, and 58% lost weight”.

Give it a go.

Call us on 07851448812 to book a consultation at our gatherings, to swap information and ideas, and to plan for the extra month and talk about your feelings, that such a challenge brings up.

We look forward to talking with you soon.

ABC RETREATS .

ABC RETREATS .

Please note that we are able to offer bespoke retreats to anyone who has difficulties attending a retreat on our set times or dates.

Slowing down and taking time out for ourselves.

Please ring Darrell to discuss your requirements

 Thank you.
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*** YOUR NEXT SOLO DAY ***

COMING SOON.

The Solo day you choose is from 10am till 4pm at Lime tree Farm Hutts Lane, Ripon HG4 3DA and includes a healthy meal.

Please bring waterproofs and suitable footwear.

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Time and space retreats to be announced soon.

The Time and space retreat includes camping fees and all meals onsite.

Please bring a tent and waterproofs, a sleeping bag and a change of clothing and suitable footwear.

Available to anyone who wants to enjoy a stilling of the mind. Lime tree farm and Yorkshire are always beautiful and are always a great place to visit.

The nature reserve generates a feeling of peace and tranquillity when attending your Solo day or Time and space retreat.

Please ring Darrell on
 +447851448812 for information or to book.

The Breath of Life.

This week's Solo day (14th September 2019) was a time for reflection and a chance to practice meditation at various parts of the farm and survey the work of others that have gone on at the nature reserve throughout the summer.

Figs.

Making no effort to control the breath; simply breathing naturally in Nature with the rustle of the parched leaves as they begin to slowly turn to Autumn golds in the coming weeks. 

The last colours of Summer.

It was a chance to focus the breath and take notice on how the body moves with each inhalation and exhalation and how the spirit is at peace in nature.

Wheat.

Corn.

The path to the chestnut tree.

Under the spreading chestnut tree.

 We sat under the chestnut tree and here a buzzard above in the adjacent tree was a special moment.

The Buzzard.

Solo Days are for a deep lasting connection to nature.

Hole in the soul.

“The spiritual path is simply the journey of living our daily lives. Everyone is on a spiritual path; most people just don’t know it.” ~Marianne Williamson

The most important time in the world is the time you make for yourself.

This weekend's Solo day task, Saturday - 17th August 2019. was to dig out a large rock at the gateway to the stone circle. Due to recent wet weather, the stones had been exposed and were causing the ride on mower to catch on this rock.

 












When we dug out the rock another 2 boulders had to be removed. Causing a large hole to be present.

Do you ever feel like there is something missing in life?

The hole in your soul feels like a big emptiness. It is a lack of connection with others. Actually, it is a lack of connection with self. It often seeks approval, praise and recognition to prove you're good enough and worthwhile. 

Where do such feelings come from?

Research into Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Study of over 17,400 college-educated employed Americans done by top medical doctors shows that over 50% of Americans have some form of childhood trauma and of these, a significant percentage suffer from food, alcohol, or other addictions.

Whether you know of it or not, most people suffer from an empty feeling perhaps condition best described as spiritual dis-ease. This description perhaps defines conditions such as alcoholism, anxiety, or depression than does the word disease, which may imply these conditions are of a physical nature.

People like to sweep their own spiritual dis-ease under the rug and try to not acknowledge feelings. They can become workaholics, alcoholics, sleepaholics, and can be addicted to food, develop dependencies to drugs or other negative behavioral traits like obsessive shopping. People often collect money to buy more things to make them happy. 

People affected by such traits may go to the doctor to get pills to numb the symptoms of their dis-ease. Some people will try anything to dull the pain. Unless we address the source of the problem, however, it’s just a matter of time before people often repeat these self-defeating patterns of behavior.

ABC offers mindful and meditation short taster courses, in nature, in order to connect in nature take stock and replace the balance, in our case this weekend we filled our hole with smaller rocks and ballast/aggregate which has another meaning, the sum of all parts. 

Research has shown that we can often die prematurely of both these primary and secondary addictions — the stress effects all of our lives collectively. It shows ACEs are the primary causes in the first place of heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and the other top ten causes of death in the U.S and in Europe this is no different. 

Come and learn how to try to escape stressful situations by applying our basic meditation techniques and to help us with our conservation tasks at the farm and our ultimate goal of funding and building a treehouse for this beautiful place.