Elmore Court, one of the UK’s ancient country estates set in the bend of the River Severn in Gloucestershire, has just opened six luxury treehouses for holiday guests. They are invited to come and relax and enjoy its rewilding land and be inspired by their stay.
With both woodland and countryside views, guests can escape to a space immersed in nature which draws in the flourishing flora and fauna buzzing with life as the estate’s nature recovery programme enters its third year.
The bespoke cabins set high in the canopy of Park Covert Woods overlook the wild wetlands where animals roam free. They offer a reflective space where there is a playful and respectful nod to ancient wisdom using names formed from our island’s answer to the guiding spirits found in the medicine wheels of the Americas and beyond: Wren, Adder, Wild Cat, Sky, Earth and Kite.
The land directly in front of the treehouses is undergoing a gentle return to wetland status. The sweeping westerly views from the woodland making way to open skies with guests able to enjoy dramatic sunsets from the treehouse large decks.
Elmore Court has been the Guise family seat for nearly 750 years with current owner Anselm Guise inheriting the property from his uncle in 2007. In 2020 he set aside 250 of the 1000-acre estate to rewilding, ceasing to cultivate that land and allowing nature to flourish as well as adopting regenerative farming methods for food production.
The treehouses are part of Anselm’s desire to open the estate, inviting guests to stay deep within nature and experience how it is possible to increase biodiversity and breathe positivity back into the environment by rewilding.
“Having been bought up in Africa with the great fortune to go on incredible safari trips I was a nature fanatic as a child. Moving to Elmore made me realise that you really don’t need to go to faraway places to get a nature ‘hit’,” commented Anselm.
For the last two years he made the decision to use no chemicals on a large portion of land. Without interference plants, fungi, birds and small mammals find their true home as the soil improves and carbon is sequestered.
“Nature has been pouring back in; in its phenomenal way it knows exactly what it is doing, and the thing is, all we need to do is simply step back. This is the magic which we will share with our guests at Rewild Things and we hope to inspire everyone, even if it is just a little bit,” he added.
Rewild Things Treehouses
There’s a winding boardwalk through the woods leading to each of the British cedar clad cabins which have corrugated roofs, cork flooring and poplar ply walls. The clever design allows for maximum insulation, gaining energy from both the sun and occupants. The design places guests in nature effortlessly.
Accommodation is suitable for couples, friends and small families with different designs of cabin sleeping 2, 3 and 4 people all with super king-size beds, organic mattress and soft linen, most offering single trundle beds for extra guests, with Sky and Earth also featuring a day bed fitted into a snug next to the bedroom. Sky is accessible to all including wheelchairs and prams and Adder and Earth are dog friendly.
The interior design sees a super talented cousin of Anselm’s, in charge. Tracey Boyd is a well-respected fashion, homewares and furniture designer and has created an individual colour palette for each treehouse using similar materials such as wood, metal and glass with Scandinavian sleek lines, interrupted by playful splashes of colour and textures. She has also designed the spindle beds which feature in each cabin, all expertly hand carved by another cousin, furniture maker Anselm Fraser.
Inside, in addition to the bedroom with its cosy wood burner and snuggly sheepskin throws, there’s a mini kitchen, bathroom with walk in rain shower and seating area.
Out on the super spacious deck, there’s a brazier fire pit with wood store, snooze chairs and a William & Holland tin and copper bath to soak up the incredible views. The beautiful Roshults outdoor kitchen with combi-oven, fridge and dinner set sits under shelter, aimed to maximise time spent outside with heating if required.
Whilst the treehouses are equipped for self-catering, guests can pre-order a range of local food and drink from the Rewild Things kitchen including breakfast hampers, a wide range of gourmet ready meals and wine, beers, and soft drinks. There are thoughtful details such as home-made dandelion cordials, spoiling Commune bath products as well as a clothes steamer, bluetooth speaker with DAB radio and super-fast fibre Wi-Fi. Each treehouse has private parking spaces and electric charging points.
Guests are invited to explore the estate which is conveniently located just a short drive from the cathedral city of Gloucester, on recommended walks as well as the chance to book private swimming and sauna experiences in the spring fed lake Madam’s Pond. There’s also the opportunity to book on foraging experience, mindful photography and nature walks with local experts.
The treehouses sit separately from Elmore’s other venture, the wedding and events business which operates out of the 13th Century Court as well as the Gillyflower ballroom which was built 10 years ago from rammed earth.
To book to go www.rewildthings.com with prices starting from £250 per night with a minimum stay of two nights.