Recent News

New mattresses

Many thanks to everyone who generously gave to our appeal to replace the mattresses in the retreat centre. We have now raised the money required and have taken delivery of new hotel quality mattresses. They are very comfortable so we wish you all sweet dreams!

Photos Needed

If you have a any good quality photos taken at Rivendell we would love to have a copy for our records or possibly to use in future publicity. Do get in touch if you have any.

School visit

Our neighbours High Hurstwood Primary School recently paid us a visit between retreats as part of their studies into Buddhism. The children, aged 7-8, spent a very enjoyable afternoon with us learning about the Buddha, his teachings and meditation. We later received a delightful thank you card from each child each containing their own drawing of the Buddha. William wrote – “Thank you for letting us come to your Buddhist Retreat. I loved sitting peacefully and letting all of me relax and listening to a bird tweeting. I enjoyed the story about the Buddha. It was a brilliant way to spend the afternoon, the exercises were fanatastik. The mats were very comfetable. I found meditating brilliant”. (sic)

Generous Friends

We have been the recipients of several very kind donations recently. Bill Fraser, a carpenter, has made enough bedside tables, and someone else donated a lamp, for every bed. Stephen Gardiner has made the place a little greener by giving a number of house plants. Sofas and chairs are also on the way to replace those in the lounges, thanks to Lynda Robb. The owners of a hotel that was closing have also given us many useful items. A big thank you to everyone who has given to Rivendell recently in their different ways. Donated items help us keep the cost of our retreats down and helps the environment through recycling. On top of that, many people have said “Rivendell has never looked better”!

Woodland management

Some regular visitors to Rivendell may have noticed some changes going on in our area of woodland. In the last couple of years we have been restarting the process of actually managing the land again. An infestation of Sycamore saplings was starting to dominate the other plant life. Through Karunavajra’s heroic efforts most of the sycamores have now been cleared. Nick the gardener has also begun dealing with the brambles that are choking parts of the wood. This will allow other plants, such as ferns, to re-establish themselves. Sadly, our tallest tree in the wood, the very large pine, has had to be felled. It was rotting from the inside and, if left, ran the risk of falling on the very beautiful and historic church next door! An extended stump has been left to provide a habitat for wildlife, (notably Woodpeckers), and will be left to slowly decay over time.