Thursday 25th - Sunday 28th September
Little Massingham, Norfolk
Introducing the retreat
​Surrounded by 63 acres of woodland and meadow, Little Massingham Manor offers an ideal place in which to ​rekindle your sense of connection and wonder through the exquisite art of paper flowers.​ Designed with nature lovers, creatives and foodies in mind, this exclusive small-group retreat led by two experienced paper flower artists will help you explore the art of paper flower making as you relax and unwind.
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With mindful paper flower workshops, delicious food prepared by a dedicated chef, beautiful Norfolk countryside and a private woodland spa this gentle creative retreat will open your imagination to the wonder of the floral world around you.
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During your stay, we’ll take great care of you with a menu inspired by the seasons and the floral theme of the retreat. Each dish is thoughtfully prepared, blending local Norfolk produce with delicate botanical touches. We’ll also make sure there’s plenty of free time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, including exclusive use of the woodland spa, nestled in the trees overlooking the meadow, with a wood fired sauna and hot tub.
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You don't need any experience, just an open mind and love of nature. We will guide you through each step of our making process with carefully designed classes for absolute beginners to experienced creatives.​
Meet your hosts, Ling & Meg
If you dream of immersing yourself in a nurturing, creative space while deepening your connection with nature, this retreat is designed for you. No prior experience is needed—just a willingness to explore your creativity and embrace the joy of learning something new.
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Guided by your hosts, Ling Warlow and Meg Lowder, you’ll enjoy five inspiring sessions of expert tuition. Together, they’ll introduce you to a world of possibilities in paper flower crafting, sharing their unique approaches and creative expertise.
By the end of the retreat, you’ll have mastered a variety of techniques and styles, creating a collection of exquisite paper flowers to take home and treasure.
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What to expect at our Flourishing retreat
Between them, Ling and Meg have spent the best part of a decade immersed in paper flowers. They met online, perhaps recognising a kindred soul as they followed each others progress from different sides of the country. Reaching out, they soon found discovered that their shared passion for paper flowers was, for both of them, based on the same core belief. Each finding their creative practice rooted in a study of nature, they experienced first hand the potent combination of nature and art. Meg is fascinated by the many beautiful gardens and the wealth of stunning flowers on her doorstep in Keswick, Norfolk, whilst Ling's heart belongs to British wildflowers and she is passionate about the concept of connecting with nature.
"There is a fundamental difference between ‘being in’ nature and ‘connecting to’ nature. Being in nature, or having a ‘dose of nature’, suggests that when not ‘in nature’, we are outside of it. To develop a connection to nature is to develop a relationship, an emotional bond, seeing ourselves as part of nature. Many studies demonstrate that developing a connection to nature is an important step in healing our fractured thinking, bringing with it a paradigm shift, an altered worldview, a change in behaviour."
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The Flourishing retreat is about giving yourself time to work on your connection to nature, through the medium of paper craft. The process of studying a flower, and working out how to recreate it, is a truly mindful practice. The process of crafting a flower using nothing but paper, wire and glue and the simplest of tools - your hands and a pair of scissors - is absorbing, meditative - and genuinely rewarding.
Over the course of three days...
With a single roll of crepe paper, wire and glue, you can soon learn how to create any flower.
You will learn:​
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Cutting and shaping techniques to create an array of flowers and petal shapes
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How to create detailed and life like flower centres
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All about different leaf shapes and a range of methods of creating them
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Colouring techniques for crepe paper to create natural looking flowers
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How to dissect a flower to create your own pattern
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Simple yet effective techniques to enhance realism
In nature, inspiration is everywhere.
Meg Lowder
Graduating from Bristol in 1998 as a graphic designer, paper quickly became the main focus of Meg's art. But it wasn't until she came across Tiffanie Turner's iconic book that she fell in love with paper flowers, devouring everything she came across, spending hours reading, watching, practicing - teaching herself and refining as she went along, whilst immersing herself in nature.
"Most importantly I learned from the flowers growing in my garden. I would choose a bloom, take it apart, and study every bit of the flower, making templates of all the different parts. I would then cut each piece from hand-dyed crepe papers and reconstruct it to make my own delicate paper version."
What started as a hobby for Meg rapidly evolved into an all-consuming passion and culminated in the establishment of her flourishing business, aptly named "Floragami." She has exhibited alongside fellow artists at the Fairhurst Gallery in Norwich and featured in The Simple Things Magazine. Meg loves to share her passion for paper flowers with others and delivers engaging workshops, designed to bring people together for a few hours of creative rejuvenation and joy. The shared experience of crafting with one's hands, achieving the seemingly impossible, imparts a profound sense of tranquility and accomplishment.
“It's a delight to teach, watching the stresses of the day melt away as stamens and petals are cut and shaped, and seeing that magical moment when someone falls in love with what they have made, the flower coming to life in front of them”
​​"I don’t think it’s over dramatic to say that discovering these delightful workshops with the even more delightful Meg have changed my life for the better. I have rediscovered my love for craft, mindfulness and connection with similar creative people. Meg teaches in an intuitive and calm way, ensuring that the initially daunting task ahead very soon seems achievable and within reach. I’ve never been to a workshop of Megs where every single person isn’t totally enchanted with what they make. I’m hooked! " Sam T
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"Meg’s flower courses are an addiction! You cannot stop at just one! I’ve always loved working with paper and I love flowers so the Florigami workshops are the perfect relaxing activity for me. Meg is super talented and her attention to detail speaks to my own creative nature. The joy of spending a few hours creating something beautiful in the company of like minded folk is just perfect. Add in a tasty home baked gluten free cake and it doesn’t get much better." Imogen​
What they say
Ling Warlow
A creative artist specialising in events, Ling's paper flower journey really got started when her thriving stationery business came to a halt during the lockdown of 2020. Out in nature on daily walks with her family, Ling found herself rediscovering her childhood passion for wildflowers, and completely changed her creative direction, embracing paper flowers wholeheartedly.
Funded by the Arts Council to develop her work, she has since gone on to create flowers for a wide range of settings, from props for TV shows to projects in schools, installations of giant wildflowers for National Museums Liverpool and creative photoshoots, as well as developing a delightful series of Paper Wildflower Craft Kits. Ling has been featured in Country Living UK and Country Homes and Interiors Magazine, teaches regular classes including visiting schools and writes about connecting to nature through art as The Paper Wildflower on Substack.
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"I am passionate about sharing the experience of mindful connection which creating paper flowers brings me. The simplest flowers, which grow from a single seed, can take days - even weeks - to recreate accurately, yet nature grows them from a single seed. The process is utterly absorbing and there is a moment of magic when the flower you create springs to life - it is a joy to watch students faces when they see what they have created!"​​
​"Ling is an incredible teacher. She really focuses on ensuring her pupils feel accomplished in paper flower making and go.home with beautiful creations they can be proud of. I look forward to her lessons every week!" Therese​
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"After meeting Ling at an event and being amazed by her beautiful flower creations, she has opened my eyes to the joys of paper flowers. Her enthusiasm and patience when teaching makes every class a pleasure. I would recommend visiting any of her Installations to really see the wonder that online images can't convey. For the more practical, you will be astounded by the flowers you can create with her guidance." Stephanie
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"Ling is an incredible artist and fantastic tutor, generous with her expertise and time. Workshops are always small groups and provide lots of fun as well as beautiful completed flowers." Kate
What they say
The Venue
Little Massingham Manor is a sublime Arts and Crafts house set within 63 acres of tranquil grounds which has recently undergone a complete reinvention including a purpose built art studio. Surrounded by professionally designed gardens, woods and meadows, and home to a wonderful spa, this is a place for you to get away from it all and unwind. A stay at Little Massingham Manor allows you to step away from your busy life into an exclusive and immersive experience surrounded by nature.
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Built in 1907 by an American Harley Street surgeon, Little Massingham Manor has a fascinating history. In the early days, it was a much loved family home, hosting many special social events that were well known across West Norfolk. During World War II, the Manor was requisitioned and used by the RAF as an officers’ mess for the area. Many well known pilots stayed at the property, and there are still two bunkers on site that are testament to that era. In 1962, the property became a flourishing retreat centre for nuns. Come 2008, Little Massingham Manor was purchased by a private family and underwent a major programme of refurbishment throughout.
In 2021, the current owner bought the property and has invested significantly to achieve his vision and desire to see Little Massingham Manor rightly restored as a magnificent venue and grounds to hold social occasions – and furthermore as a very special place for guests to unwind, and immerse themselves in nature and exclusive tranquillity.
Accommodation
The retreat takes place entirely within Little Massingham Manor, with accommodation in the main house. The rooms are named after the trees found in the Manor grounds, and each room is beautifully decorated and furnished, warm and full of peace. ​
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Several rooms are en-suite, others have shared bathrooms. It is completely up to you whether you have a room to yourself, or share with someone else. If you are a couple or friends who want to reserve a room together, please let us know when you book.
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We will provide you with a choice of delicious breakfasts, lunches and suppers, snacks and cakes, and hot and cold drinks. We will take careful note of your dietary needs, and there will be a daily selection of vegetarian and vegan options. (Please note that we will be offering an alcoholic cocktail on the first night only. You are welcome to bring your own alcohol, but non-drinkers will be in good company!)
MEET OUR CHEF
Katie Park is as colourful and delicious as the wonderful menus and dishes she creates.
We have worked closely with Katie to develop botanically inspired menus which will be a pleasure for all our senses!
Katie will be joining us on site throughout the retreat and can cater for your dietary requirements. please remember to let us know when you book if you have any allergies, intolerances or special needs.
As well as breakfast, lunch and dinner, Katie will be providing us with a wonderful selection of sweet and savoury treats throughout the retreat, as well as hosting a botanical cocktail evening on the first evening.
Katie Park
I'm in! How do I book?
JOIN LING AND MEG AT OUR FLOURISHING PAPER FLOWER RETREAT!
HEAD OVER TO OUR BOOKING PAGE TO SEE YOUR ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS. SUBMIT THE BOOKING REQUEST FORM AND WE WILL CONTACT YOU TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AND ENSURE WE HAVE ALL THE DETAILS WE NEED. A 50% BOOKING FEE IS PAYABLE ON BOOKING AND THE BALANCE IS PAYABLE BY 1ST JUNE. BOOKING TAKEN AFTER 1ST JUNE ARE PAYABLE IN FULL. PAYMENT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO MAKE FLOWERS WITH YOU!
