Hi, I’m Emily — The Founder of Be Still Retreat and I am SO glad you’re here.

After celebrating our first birthday recently, I thought it was about time I properly introduced myself so here goes!

A little about me: I’m 42, a Mama to three beautiful boys aged 7, 6, and almost 2. I’m also a Doula — I witnessed my first birth in September last year, and I’m still completely in awe of the magic of that experience.

The lightbulb moment for Be Still Retreat came to life in March last year. My youngest was just 8 months old, and as I began to emerge from the depths of postpartum, my creative energy slowly returned. With my Dad’s wholehearted support, I started jotting down ideas between feeds, naps, and all the beautiful chaos of motherhood… and from there, Be Still Retreat began to grow.

This place is in my bones. I grew up here at Stanley Bridge Stables with my three siblings after my Dad acquired the land when I was eight years old. Our childhood was full of freedom. We had horses, goats, chickens, and endless space to roam. We swam in the lake and river every summer, climbed trees, and lived in the kind of wild, grounding magic that shapes you for life.

In my 20s, I was lucky enough to travel the world — twice — visiting the Cook Islands, New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji. Before becoming a Mother in 2017, I worked in various corporate roles, but the last eight years at home with my boys have been the most grounding and transformative of all.

In my 30s, we spent several years renovating two old houses — one in the beautiful city of Bath, and the other is the home we live in now, tucked away in a quiet village near Corsham. Both were real labours of love, full of character, dust, and a deeply satisfying progress.

Be Still Retreat was born not only from a longing to share this space, but from a need to reconnect with myself — to create something meaningful, beautiful, and intentional. Opening the gates has opened my heart in ways I never expected, and I’m endlessly grateful for the incredible humans it continues to bring my way.

Thank you for being here and for taking your time to read this.

Emily x