OAK & ASH & THORN
IN VOLTAIRE’S WOOD
120 acres of native English woodland. Oak and ash and thorn, beech, hazel and wild cherry too. A world away from the world.
Gather in the Woods
Oak & Ash & Thorn hosts three spaces within the woods for gatherings of groups of friends, families or for chilled out parties.
You won’t just be camping, you will also be experiencing woodland life. On Saturday mornings, we go out and split wood. We call it “axe therapy”. Come and join us, if you feel like it.
If you are interested in nature and biodiversity, our ecologist Clair be on hand to take you on a tour of the woodland looking for mosses, lichens and fungi to make your own terrariums to take home. And in the evenings, there is, of course, a big bonfire at your camp.
Each of the three camps is a private area for you and your friends to pitch tents, go exploring or make a fire and do nothing but listen to the birdsong.
We are based between Stroud and Tetbury in Gloucestershire, with Stroud being the closest station.
Camping for gatherings is open for most weekends over the summer, from May until October.
Where and When?
The Experience
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Axe Therapy
Get splitting. One of the most satisfying things on the planet is to split wood by hand. We have little rounds for novices, chunkier logs for those who want a challenge. Take a bundle of wood back for your campfire.
This is included in your weekend package and happens Saturday mornings.We provide axes and shin-guards and guidance. You provide the swing.
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Terrariums to Go
A unique walk through the woods to collect mosses, lichens, leaves, decaying wood and fungi to make into a terrarium, a little woodland ecosystem in a jar. Led by our resident ecologist, Clair, on Saturday afternoons.
This is included in your weekend package and happens on Saturday afternoons. Bring your own sealable jar (1 litre maximum) or buy one from us on the day.
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Campfire
Your main camp comes with a large firebowl, kindling and generous stacks of firewood for you to enjoy fires in the evening. There’s seating around and a grill to cook on. Just bring the pots and pans.
Firewood is included in the package. We also provide a washing up station. And if you don’t fancy cooking, you can hire in a food truck.
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Chill Disco
A little dancing in the woods to end the weekend? Music is ok at chill volumes - think a household. We don’t want to disturb the owls.
If you’d like to amp it up, we suggest hiring in silent disco equipment for the evening.
Just ask us for prices and we can help with the set-up too.
The Camps
Shindig Corner
20-40 adults, weekend booking
Great for larger gatherings, Shindig Corner is a series of five little camps all a minute or two walk from our A-frame. The A-frame covered area will comfortably hold around 30-40 people and is the ideal place for a chilled outdoor party in the woods. There’s even a skate ramp next to it, if you want to try your moves.
This space is available for groups of 20-40 adults. Bookings are only available on specific weekends over the summer. Each booking includes a base cost for the area @£325, plus £50 per adult per weekend.
The Forts
12-24 adults, two-night weekend booking
A plateau with an open aspect but in a pretty ancient piece of the woodland in the middle of the woods. It is surrounded by gnarled trees, old chestnuts, beeches and yews, and wild garlic is rife. It is great space to stretch out, lounge around, have a feast and go exploring. There’s a stream nearby too and it is a short walk down to the pub.
This space is available for groups of 12-24 adults. The base cost of the area is £275, plus £50 per head for the weekend.
Little Camp
6-12 adults, two-night weekend booking.
We have one little camp available on specific weekends for smaller gatherings. This can be in a couple of different locations depending on the weather, and your appetite for walking or driving. It could be the woodland with a view over the fields, our lovely Butterfly Glide site if you are in an off-roader or Dakota, an favourite camp of many of our regulars, great for slinging hammocks.
This space is available for groups of 6-12 adults. The base cost of the area is £200, plus £50 per head for the weekend.
Availability
Below you will find the base price per camp, for services. In addition it is £50 per head for the weekend, children are half price.
You can book Little Camp directly. For larger camps, please send in a reservation form and we will get back to you confirm details.
