42 Acres — Witham Friary, UK
173 acres of rewilded land, ancient woodland and lake in Somerset—a regenerative retreat centre and nature reserve.
In 2015, siblings Lara and Seth Tabatznik opened 42 Acres in Witham Friary, Frome, Somerset, born from their own experiences at transformational retreats and workshops—including the Hoffman Process, Satori, and Non-Violent Communication trainings. Inspired by the conviction that outer change begins with inner work, they sought to create a dedicated space for personal, social and environmental change. The land itself—173 acres of ancient woodland, rewilded meadows, a 7-acre lake, and the source of four rivers—became the container for that vision.
The estate operates on a philosophy of elegant simplicity, drawn from the teachings of activist Satish Kumar. All accommodation has been consciously restored using sustainable, locally-sourced, natural materials and is powered 100% by renewable energy. Guests choose from converted barns, cottages, and unique spaces like the Tiny Boat—each designed as a nurturing sanctuary. The interiors reflect restraint and quality; the grounds invite exploration of ancient forest, beaver-filled wetlands, and regenerative gardens.
Food at 42 Acres follows a "soil-to-gut" philosophy: as the land's microbiomes are restored, so too are those of the people who eat from it. Menus are hyper-local and seasonal, built from ingredients organically grown and wild-foraged on the estate—including produce from a two-acre permaculture garden, an outdoor mushroom farm (among the first in the UK), edible hedges, orchards, and an edible ornamental walled garden. The retreat chefs work with whole plants, ferments, and foraged wild foods, creating dishes that are simultaneously nourishing and medicinal.
Over the past decade, the land has become a biodiversity hotspot. Beavers, absent from Britain for over 400 years, have lived wild on the estate since 2016, reshaping the entire ecosystem and creating thriving wetlands. In partnership with The Species Recovery Centre, 42 Acres is working to reintroduce lost and endangered species, including White Storks and wildcats. The estate operates as a rewilding project and nature reserve, with guests invited to witness and participate in this restoration.
42 Acres now hosts full-board weekends in its Sacred Space (The Hermitage), self-catered retreats, workshops on medicinal mushrooms and wild medicine-making, monthly volunteer gatherings (Wild Guardians), and curated retreats with teachers including Satish Kumar. The place welcomes retreat hosts, conscious teams, and individuals seeking to reconnect with nature, self and others. Every detail—from the renewable energy systems to the permaculture gardens to the species reintroduction work—reflects a commitment to living in harmony with the land and all its inhabitants.
Traditions: Permaculture, Regenerative Agriculture, Rewilding and Species Restoration, Soil-to-Gut Food Philosophy, Restorative Yoga, Wild Foraging and Herbalism
Programs: Full Board Weekends in The Hermitage, Wild Weekend Retreats (Medicinal Mushrooms, Wintering Well, Listening to The Land), Winter Medicine Making Workshop, Medicinal Mushrooms Workshop and Log Inoculation, Wild Guardians Monthly Volunteer Gatherings, Radical Love Retreat with Satish Kumar, Guided Rewilding Walks and Beaver Walks, Permaculture Gardening Experiences and Garden Grazing