The next Kirros Retreat takes place on 17 - 19 June 2026 at Wickenden Farm, West Sussex, UK. Led by experienced facilitator Matthew Critchlow with guest teachers and trainers, including two amazing horses!
£680 (incl. VAT) per person which includes full board and lodging (all individual on suite rooms), tutor led sessions, plus outdoor swimming pool, wild swimming, hot tub and sauna!
All food and drink on the retreat will be prepared using locally-sourced organic produce (as far as possible) from local Farms: Tablehurst, and Plaw Hatch, as well as High Weald Dairy (cheesemakers) and the Bluebell Vineyard.
Overview
Kirros Retreats are an opportunity to recharge in beautiful surroundings, develop new skills as a coach and facilitator and (re)connect with people and nature.
Part of our theme this year will be coaching skills, including an extended Time To Think session (based on the work of Nancy Kline), coaching supervision, and coaching development with horses (on the ground not ridden).
Dates
Starts: Wednesday 17 June 2026 | 12:00
Closes: Friday 19 June | 17:00
Venue
Wickenden Farm Retreat Centre, Chilling Street, Sharpthorne, West Sussex, RH19 4JD, UK
Overview of timing and events
- Arrive Wednesday lunchtime
- Group and individual sessions from Wednesday morning to Friday afternoon
- Depart Friday afternoon.
Retreat Plan
Wednesday
- Welcome and vegetarian lunch
- Introductions
- Coaching and leadership development with horses*
- Mindfulness session
- Vegetarian supper (al fresco, fireside chat, weather-permitting)
- Fireside chat
Thursday
- Check-in and mindfulness practices
- Qigong session
- Coaching Supervision sessions - with Jenny Leclezio and Chris Paterson (TBC)
- LUNCH on the terrace
- Time To Think | Coaching Masterclass - with Jenny Leclezio from Shine Global.
- Chill-out time
- SUPPER al fresco (weather-permitting). With meat options!
- The Neuroscience of Emotional Intelligence - after dinner talk with guest speaker, followed by
- Live Music
Friday
- Morning check-in
- Nature Immersion - on Wickenden Farm with Anna Richardson and Erica Shorter from Children's Forest, including forest bathing, foraging, creative writing and tree tending
- LUNCH on the terrace, weather-permitting
- Coaching practice and/or
- Coaching supervision sessions
*Coaching development with horses
As part of the 2026 retreat, we will run a session in which participants engage in facilitated, ground-based experiential learning with horses (non-ridden). Working with the horses on carefully designed challenges, you will be offered a powerful, living mirror of habitual ways of leading, relating, and influencing. The horses provide immediate, honest, and non-judgemental feedback, enabling participants to surface and address core patterns with speed and clarity.
Within the contained and supportive environment, you will be able to experiment with and practise new behaviours, integrating insight at both a cognitive and embodied level and strengthening your capacity for presence, adaptability, and impact in your coaching practice.