Wild Stories
A Retreat for those Looking to Inspire Change
with Martha Tilston & Andy Raingold
Wed 3rd to Sun 7th Sept at Dartmoor National Park, Devon
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"The whole experience was transformational and unforgettable with masterful space holding.”
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"Rare and precious… Life changing on every plane of existence."
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"A rewilding of the heart to embrace storytelling as a means of understanding yourself and change the world."
The Craft of Stories: A Retreat to Inspire Change
Stories shape how we see the world—and how the world sees us.
Join us for an immersive storytelling retreat where you’ll craft narratives that inspire, deepen connections, and empower you to drive meaningful change. Through guided workshops, reflective time in nature, and hands-on practice, you’ll:
Discover and shape compelling stories that resonate with others (for personal and professional contexts)
Build confidence in sharing your voice
Harness storytelling as a tool for influence and transformation
Share stories that inspire hope and action
What is Wild Stories?
An immersive learning journey to find your authentic voice and inspire others. Through a space of calm, creativity, and connection, this retreat dives deep into storytelling. In the heart of Dartmoor’s wild beauty, we’ll pause, listen, and tap into the stories that live within us.
We explore:
🔥 Myth and storytelling around the fire
🎶 Song, poetry, and creative writing
💡 Unlocking imagination and activating hope
🌿 Deep listening and connection with nature
😂 Laughter, creativity, and creating change
Why Stories?
"What might save us from the consequences of our blindness may not be wave machines or wind farms, treaties or political movements – but stories." – Paul Kingsnorth
We are living in a time of monumental transformation and challenge. How do we meet our fears while weaving a more hopeful, interconnected world? Stories help shape new possibilities—guiding us toward regeneration, deeper connection, and a more beautiful future. Our intention is to spark stories that create change in our communities and beyond.
Who is it for?
You don’t need to be a storyteller to join - because we are all storytellers. Whether in offices or kitchens, on footpaths or social media, we tell stories every day. This retreat is for:
Professionals, artists, activists and social entrepreneurs
Community organizers and changemakers
Anyone curious about using storytelling as a force for positive change
As one participant in 2024 said, "the diverse voices and complete acceptance allowed me to access parts of myself that are often hidden.”
What You’ll Take Away
Feedback from past participants say they left with:
Stories to inspire change – explore storytelling as a tool for transformation, coming away with tools and techniques that you can apply to your work and life
A renewed sense of self – step into your voice with confidence and authenticity, enhancing your capacity to create change
Deep connection – with yourself, others and the land
Enhanced communication and deep listening skills
Creative courage – unlock dormant stories and activate hope
Tools for creative thinking and writing
A sense of homecoming – return to life bolder, brighter and more grounded
Let’s gather, listen, create, and reimagine the world - one story at a time.
Wild Stories Trailer
Feedback from 2024
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"You have changed my world and inspired me to bring these gifts of nature, story and compassion to others."
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"A leadership conference for wild humans with childlike spirits."
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"I arrived lost and have left feeling found in these precious creative lands."
Book now to secure your place
The majority of our training courses have been heavily oversubscribed in the last few years, so early booking is recommended
Arrivals from noon on Wednesday (for a 1.30pm start) and it finishes at 1pm on Sunday.
We are currently offering a limited number of early bird places saving £200 on the full course fee. Book now and pay £495 (low income £450). We offer these early birds at a highly discounted rate as this helps us to plan in advance more effectively.
We don't want price to exclude anyone. If the course fee is unaffordable for you, we would really like to hear what might be possible for you. We offer a number of bursary places - please click here to apply for one of these.
Let us know if you would like to pay in instalments.
The course fee includes all teaching, as well as all dinners and breakfasts + lunch on Saturday (you bring your own packed lunches for Thursday and Friday).
The venue is near Moretonhamstead, Devon. There will be shared taxis from Newton Abbot if you are taking the train. The train from London takes two and a half hours. This is a camping experience, so please bring a tent and all your camping gear. Camper vans also welcome!
Please read our terms & conditions before booking.
The facilitators
Martha Tilston
Martha Tilston has developed a successful musical and film making career with a large and loyal following worldwide. She has played her music on some of the world’s most prestigious stages and festivals and released several critically acclaimed albums. In the world of film making, Martha has gained nominations for best arts film for The Clifftop Sessions and recently released her feature film The Tape which she writes, directs and performs in. Martha also studied theatre and lectures in song writing, performance and the telling of story through song. Her passion is unlocking the creativity and story in all of us.
Andy Raingold
As Co-Founder and Director of Change in Nature, Andy supports people and organisations to make meaningful action in this pivotal time. He is a facilitator, coach, speaker, environmental campaigner and social entrepreneur with a wealth of experience leading people through transformation. Throughout his career, he has used story as a key medium to drive social change. For over seven years, he worked in the corridors of power with CEOs, Government Ministers and thought leaders to drive environmental change - giving talks, writing articles, publshing high level political reports and becoming a key social influencer. At Change in Nature, he facilitates deeper connection through creativity, imagination, myth, deep time stories and embodied practices to radicaly shift perspectives. In 2018, he hosted a regular storytelling fireside evening in Bristol. He has written for the Guardian and been interviewed on BBC Newsnight, The Sunday Times, BBC Radio 4, The Independent and Guardian Environment Podcast.
The Location
We make our camp in a secluded and magical 62 acre woodland in Dartmoor National Park, which is a rewilding site for nature and people. The site is rich in natural habitats, in badger setts, deer beds and fox dens, including an ancient beech grove, spruce forests, hazel coppice, wild flower meadows, a stream and mixed broadleaves. The site is home to an abundance of wildlife and rare birds, including nightjar, wood pipits and the mythical white deer. It is the ultimate escape from modern living with no electricity, road noise or wifi, and replaced with a sky full of stars and the sound of birdsong all around and owls calling at night.
We create a temporary village with fire pits, sheltered spaces, compost toilets and wild camping spots to provide an authentic, yet comfortable, experience in nature. We cook all our meals over an open fire, provide a smattering of solar powered fairy lights and fetch our water from the stream. At the center of it all is the White Deer Lodge, a large covered shelter where we gather in the evenings. A place where the old stories are told and heartfelt songs are sung. The site also has the best swing in the world!