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 .

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.

The Observatory.


This wonderful observatory is located in the heart of Nidderdale /in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the Lime Tree Observatory benefits from a remote but accessible location under the darkest of skies.


The Old Observatory.
The observatory is run by experienced astronomers who have a fantastic ability to communicate the science of Astronomy to their guests. A visit to this is facility is one that, no matter age or experience, everyone would enjoy.


The New Observatory.

 For more information, please contact
                                                                                                       https://www.facebook.com/LimeTreeObservatory/




 


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