Oaksbrook Ltd is a nature inspired, wellness retreat at Brook Farm in the North Essex countryside. Brook Farm is home to Steve and Jane Gilbey, their two Golden Retrievers Jack and Barley, Janes horses, pet sheep, goats, chickens and cats.
We have a luxury off grid, eco friendly, Shepherd Hut which is be sited in a secluded wooded meadow, nestled behind a protective shelter of mature Pines and tall native hedges, backing into farmland. Wild flowers grow among the trees in little clearings. The Ryeland Hut sleeps up to two people sharing a King size pull out bed that can be a single bed or sofa by day leaving more space in the hut. It has a lovely Oak folding table and fitted kitchen with baby Belfast sink, two ring hob and Thetford Spinflow oven which is run entirely by leisure battery charged by solar panels on the roof. Hot water on demand and a beautiful en suite shower room with hand basin and Seperatt Waterless toilet with an extractor fan run by the solar. The hut was built on site by host Steve Gilbey. It’s been lovingly built with attention to detail with a solid Oak Chasis and cladding. There is also a lovely Apple Pie log burning stove for those chilly nights to cozy up with a hot chocolate. There is also a small TV and we provide a battery pack for phone and tablet charging and a cool box.
Outside there is a picnic table, BBQ, sun shade and use of a Rocket Stove. The hut overlooks our Whispering Birch healing and meditation space. Bird feeders hang in the nearby trees and you have your own wild meadow to relax in nature watching the Red Kites soar above and listening to the owls at night. You will often spot deer, rabbits, partridge and pheasants.
We will soon be adding a lovely converted horse trailer sauna, utilising our little Croft wash hut and a cold plunge pool. This will be a new addition for 2025.
Come through the gate into the wider farm and explore a trail around the farm, see the horses grazing in their paddocks, pass our bee hives, take a seat at the top of the hill and look out over an expansive view. Our latest conservation project scheduled for summer 2024 is the creation of a series of ponds as habitat for rare Great Crested Newts. This project is in conjunction with non profit organisation Froglife. We have also partnered with the Woodland Trust and the Rural Payments Agency Countryside Stewardship Scheme to add rich and diverse habitats for wildlife, planting over 1000 trees and 1000’s of metres of native hedging. Not only has this enhanced aesthetically the beauty of the farm and created habitat for wildlife but it has also created shelter belts and enrichment for our horses and offsets any Carbon our already very low carbon business creates. We are pleased to be partnering with Woodland Champions who share our ethos in creating new native woodlands.
Oaksbrook will also be hosting nature and animal based workshops and trainings, crafts, nature activities and day retreats. In addition our guests can enjoy a range of Holistic Complimentary therapies by Jane Gilbey. Jane is qualified in a number of therapies for people and animals and has her own business page dedicated to the animals @naturalanswer. Flower and Vibrational Essences, Reiki and other energy healing techniques, Equine Touch, Meditation and incorporating Equine Facilitated Interactions of which she is a Practioner accreditted with the ACCPH and is also on an accredited register with the PSA. She can tailer activities for visitors and guests for an additional fee to create a bespoke programme of support or experiences.
The horses at Brook Farm and the other animals are the centre of Jane and Steves lives. Our lifestyle and our business are inspired by them. Our love of nature has also shaped the way Brook Farm has evolved in the last 12 years since we have lived here. We have created so much habitat for wildlife and that has been so gratifying as we now are seeing so many species of Flora and Forna at the farm. We look forward to welcoming like minded guests. We are primarily adult only, but can accept older children staying with a parent or guardian in the hut. We also accept well behaved pets.