General information
For the last two weeks of June, we create a beautiful space in the woods for you to feel welcomed and be. Come enjoy the beauty of the woods, the song of the birds, the peace of the hearth, and take a moment to (re)connect with yourself and with other women.
The Red Hearth is open everyday from 10am until dark. You can come at any point, whether there is a workshop or not. Why not enjoy a break from the hectic day to day life, meet up with your friend in the woods, or take your book and rest between hawthorn and birch? There are activities offered during the day and evening time. Some workshops need booking, please see the details in the description.
All facilitated events are by suggested donation £5-15, and we welcome donations when you visit the space too (please bring cash with you).
The roundhouse and fireplace are located at the back of Martin and Kesty’s house. The address is 7 Summer Close, Stroud, GL5 1PF. Please park on Summer Street and walk up Summer Close as there is very limited parking on Summer Close. There is a path to the left of 7 Summer Close. Take care as the path is steep in places and may be slippery.
Over the solstice weekend, Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd, you can also come camp up on the land. For more information: Camping at the Red Hearth.
We are currently updating the programme for our 2025 gathering. Activities may be subject to change. Do visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for the latest updates.
Pop-Up Emerging Elders at the Red Hearth
Throughout Red Hearth 2025, there will be older women on site as “Pop-Up Emerging Elders”. They will be wearing either red or pink sashes, as in this pic. They are Emerging because, in our culture, we don’t really know what Elders are and what they offer. We are experimenting and learning. Younger women are welcome to talk to these Emerging Elders or ask them anything. These older women have chosen to be at Red Hearth and available for younger women to talk to. They will wait until someone approaches them and will not impose themselves. Do talk to them and make the most of their years of LIFE and join our ongoing experiment about what eldering means in our community. If you particularly want a one-to-one chat with an Emerging Elder, do send your request in an email to redhearthkin@gmail.com and we will try and make that happen.
PROGRAMME
Wednesday 25th
13:00 – 15:00 – Intimate Constellation with sisters with Leonie
Step into a sacred, powerful space where the wisdom of the body, the heart, and the energy of the constellation field weave together. Rooted in systemic constellation work, this approach allows hidden dynamics within families, relationships, or inner parts to be revealed through embodied, intuitive representation. By placing participants into the field as representatives, constellations offer profound insight and the possibility for deep healing. This is an intuitive session, allowing whatever wants to arise to be seen, felt, and held. There will be embodied grounding, sharing, and witnessing. Whether you wish to constellate a personal question, take part as a representative, or simply rest in the healing field, you are welcome. Bring your open heart, your full presence, and your readiness for transformation.
19:00 – Songhold: Music to Hold the World in Love with Jackie Singer
The Net of Light, the Tree of Life, Holding and Held, ’Shamanka’ – these are some of the chants Jackie will be sharing. Simple to learn but carrying a world within. In the first half Jackie will teach the chants and share the background to each one. Then we will sing together in sacred space, dropping into silence and meditation. With Jackie Singer, multi-disciplinary artist and shamanic practitioner, whose previous projects include Rhiannon Unbridled and Birthrites – Rituals and Celebrations for the Child-Bearing Years.
Thursday 26th
10:00 – Stroud Sisterhood
Come and join us for our Stroud sisterhood coffee morning. A drop in session to meet each other in real life. To find support, meet friends old and new. Laugh, cry and be together.
12:00 to 14:00 – Healing Circle
with Jú Avila & Jess Shanti
We warmly invite you to the Healing Circle, a space for rest, dreams, and deep receiving. Come prepared to be nourished and nurtured with gentle, healing touch, enveloped in soothing sounds that bring harmony to your whole being.
Enter a place to simply be, breathe, and reconnect with the pulse of the earth and the whisper of your own heart.
What to Bring: Anything that helps you create your own cosy nest, such as a yoga mat, blanket, pillow, or anything else that supports your comfort and relaxation.
Working together to create nourishing, nurturing spaces for women.
We look forward to sharing this circle of healing, connection, and sisterhood with you.
14:30 to 16:30 – Weaning circle with Catherine Forrester
A support circle for breastfeeding parents who are coming to the end of breastfeeding, or who have recently finished, to come together to reflect and celebrate their experience. Space to share the feelings that come up around this time; to hear and be heard; and support each other.
We’ll have a sharing circle, tea and time to chat. Free to attend, with option to make a donation. Babes in arms are welcome but if your little one is over the age of 12 months it will be best to find alternative care for them so that you and others can share most openly.
Catherine is a mother of two and co-founder of the Stroud Motherhood Collective, which runs peer support groups for mothers in the Stroud District.
13:00 to 19:00 – Open space
The roundhouse is open for anyone to enjoy. Come craft, read, enjoy a cup of tea with a friend, journal or simply rest. No need to register, just come! A kindling sister (volunteer) will be here if you need anything.
19:00 – 21:30 – Cacao Ceremony and Sauna
Elemental Sanctuary with Jú Avila & Eugenie Rose
Enter a sacred space to reconnect with your inner landscape, honouring the elements and embracing the wisdom of the heart. Through movement, sound, and loving touch, you’ll be guided to release what no longer serves and soften into your authentic self.
This offering includes:
A sacred cacao ceremony to nourish the heart, a herbal sauna ritual to cleanse and awaken the body! Please bring a towel, robe and whatever makes you feel comfortable. You are welcome to join the sauna in a way that honours your body and comfort.
Jú Avila, Priestess and Cacao Guardian shares her wild essence and ceremonial cacao from her Brazilian homeland. Eugenie Rose, an ethereal songstress, brings her nurturing presence and loving touch. Together, they hold a sacred container for your journey of remembrance and renewal.
Friday 27th – Rainbow Hearth, welcoming LGBTQIA+
A cosy, colourful celebration for LGBTQIA+ folks and our lovely allies! Nestled in the beauty of the woodlands, this is your space to chill, create and connect.
By day, dive into playful workshops, get messy in our art spaces or nap under the leaves. By night gather round the fire for a heart-thumping gig… See more details below!
Expect cosy campfires, inclusive workshops, forest walks, art circles, and uplifting performances. Whether you’re here to share your voice or simply to be present and supported, Rainbow Hearth is a sanctuary for authenticity and belonging. Lets build something beautiful together.
Drop in for an hour, all day or for one or more of the workshops.
11:00-13:00 – Land work with Kesty and Lou
Join the woodland women who steward Sladebank Woods, where the Red Hearth is hosted. The work varies on the day and women are encouraged to work at their own pace. This is an opportunity to give back to the land that holds us during the gathering, and to connect with other women through physical work.
14.00 – Bad Art with Nicola Damery
What is Bad Art?!? The concept of Bad Art challenges unnecessary binaries between what is considered ‘high’ and ‘low’ art, while confronting our preconceived notions of what qualifies a human to be an artist. The guardians of high culture will try to convince you that the arts belong only to a chosen few, but they are wrong and they are also annoying! We are all the chosen few. We are all makers and creators!
Making bad art frees up your creative spirit and puts you back in touch with the child artist inside you, who knows that play is the key to everything worthwhile in this universe.
We will work inside and outside depending on weather and where your creativity flow is taking you. Absolutely no experience needed. All materials provided. Plenty of guidance as well as space to do as you please.
Booking essential. Only 8 places available due to space limitations. Please contact nicoladamery@gmail.com
13:00 to 19:00 – Open space
The roundhouse is open for anyone to enjoy. Come craft, read, enjoy a cup of tea with a friend, journal or simply rest. No need to register, just come! A kindling sister (volunteer) will be here if you need anything.
19.00 – Live Music in the woods with Dryadic
Hailing from the waterways of Gloucestershire, Dryadic’s sound traverses an acoustic spectrum with a British/European folk core smattered with roots, gypsy and pop round the edges. Captivating rhythms, melodies and hooks, underpin candid, heartfelt lyrics, riding a silky wave of guitar, strings, pianos and upright bass. The singer-songwriter’s distinctive, folk-infused style is set against a chronicle of sleepless cities, magical forests, bustling festivals and glorious sunsets; and watch out for her knack for slipping in unequivocally anthemic ballads on the keys.
Zora can also be found leading the Queer Voices Gloucestershire choir, on the cover of the Stroud Pride and making music in the Centre for Science and Art.
Saturday 28th
11.30am – Cooking workshop, Afghan food with Reena Azizi
Come and celebrate the Afghan culture with Reena Azizi. This workshop will include cooking around a fire, learning some traditional Afghan dishes, hearing about the culture and sharing food and music, all in the beautiful woodland setting.
Book here: redhearthkin@gmail.com. Please bring cash for food donation.
14:00-16:30 – Macramé with Cecile Fortin
Join me for a relaxing macramé session where we’ll craft a simple yet beautiful plant hanger. You’ll learn a few basic knots and techniques to get you started on your macramé journey—perfect for beginners and anyone looking for a creative break!
17:00-18:30 – Closing Ceremony with the Red Hearth team
Come and celebrate what will have been a glorious fortnight of women gathering at our Red Hearth for this final evening. We will co-create an evening of words, song, creativity and beauty.
Sunday 29th
12:00 – Community Consultation with the Red Hearth team
Every year, we hold a moment for feedback about the Red Hearth gathering. We welcome anyone, whether you’ve come to once or more, volunteered as a kindling sister or facilitated a session.
Red Hearth 