Reconnecting with nature in a minimalist treehouse at Rewild Things, Gloucestershire

[Advertisement – this post is based on a press stay, but all words and opinions are my own]

Sometimes, I’m lucky enough to stay at places that weave their way into my soul. Rewild Things is one of them. A cluster of newly built treehouses near the banks of the River Severn in Gloucestershire, South West England, it forms part of Elmore Court – a Tudor estate that’s now a boutique wedding venue. They don’t open to guests until 24th May but last weekend Chris and I were given the opportunity to try one out ahead of the official launch, and we instantly fell under its spell.

Completely separate from the wedding business, the six treehouses are perched on the edge of a wooded slope in a section of the estate that owner Anselm Guise is in the process of rewilding. His aim is to encourage biodiversity by restoring the landscape to its natural state, and opening this stunning setting up to overnight guests is the latest stage in a multi-year project that also encompasses regenerative farming, wetland creation and a wild swimming pond. It’s already showing signs of success, with the soil improving and wildlife flourishing.

Some of the treehouses sleep three or four people but we stayed in Wren, a cosy retreat for two. We knew we’d arrived somewhere special as soon as we pulled up in our allocated parking space (complete with electric car charger, for those who need it) to find raucous birdsong all around. From there, we followed a winding boardwalk down through the woodland, carpeted with bluebells and cow parsley at this time of year, until the timber-clad form of our home for the next couple of nights emerged from the branches. I’ve since discovered that lead designer Philip Hurrell of Millar + Howard Architects envisaged the treehouses as ‘a series of thresholds, of moments, an unfolding experience’, and they’re exactly that. We felt like we were leaving the stresses of real life far behind and entering some kind of wild, enchanted world.

The Narnia moment continued inside, where we were greeted by sweeping views over meadows, pools and marshes, the rolling hills of the Wye Valley just visible in the distance. It was almost as if we were floating over the landscape, the shelter of the woodland behind us giving way to big skies and wide open space.

For me, the interior design was just as impressive as the vistas. The work of Anselm’s cousin, Tracey Boyd, it mixes simple plywood cladding and sustainable cork flooring with understated Scandinavian-inspired furniture and lighting. There’s nothing twee or superfluous – just honest materials, clean lines, cosy textures, and subtle green and blush-pink accents that reflect the colours of the land outside. It somehow manages to be minimalist and modern yet totally in keeping with the setting – never an easy balance to achieve.

At one end of Wren is a sitting area with cushioned bench seating, snuggly sheepskins and a wood-burner. A semi-open plywood divider separates that from the bedroom, where there’s a super-kingsize Naturalmat bed and a few wall hooks for clothes. A pocket door then leads on to a black-stone bathroom, complete with walk-in rain shower, a beautiful green resin sink and cleverly positioned windows that mean you can gaze over the trees without anyone looking in. At the front and rear are outdoor decks, both with HAY ‘Palissade’ seating and one with an indulgent open-air copper bathtub.

Back inside is a tiny but well-designed kitchenette with a combi oven, an induction hob, a fridge, a coffee machine, multifunctional Our Place pans and a moveable trolley stacked with just enough crockery and glassware to see you through. We didn’t really spend much time in it, though, as the set-up at Rewild Things means you can order breakfast hampers, snacks and ready meals in advance of your stay. Everything was waiting for us when we arrived, and simply being able to heat up a delicious pre-prepared dish – a rich beef-shin casserole on our first evening, creamy wild-mushroom pappardelle the next – made for a very relaxing experience.

Relaxation, in fact, became the main theme of our stay. Mornings were spent sitting on the rear deck with coffee and toast, listening to the woodland come alive around us; the evenings lounging on the front deck watching ever-changing skies reflected in the water below. In between, we read, we played board games and we headed off on rambles around the estate, encountering shimmering dragonflies, darting hares and strutting pheasants along the way. Immersed in nature, we both felt we were breathing more deeply than we had in months.

The outdoor bathtub saw a lot of use, too. Wallowing in warm bubbles as dappled sunlight danced around me and birds chattered in the branches above was a real treat, and I stayed there for ages, topping up the hot water again again.

As the treehouses face west, the sunsets at Rewild Things are spectacular. But perhaps the greatest magic comes once darkness falls. With no city light pollution, the night sky is an unbroken swathe of velvety blackness, speckled with silver and occasionally streaked by a shooting star. Keen to make the most of it, we spent much of our last evening swaddled in blankets on the deck, staring upwards in wonder as an owl hooted in the distance and something – possibly a badger – snuffled around the undergrowth below. It made for an unforgettable end to our stay, and left us both wishing we could postpone our impending return to reality for a little longer.

The treehouses at Rewild Things officially open for stays on 24th May, with rates starting at £250 per night. Find out more and make a booking here.

All photography by Abi Dare