Laurel Park in Gedney Broadgate, South Holland, is transitioning from operating as a traditional campsite to serving as a dedicated retreat center beginning this summer, with owners Emma and Andy Bacon opening the venue to yoga instructors, wellness practitioners, and other facilitators seeking a countryside location for holistic events.
The couple, who have hosted their own yoga and wellness retreats at the property for several years, are now making the site available for exclusive-use bookings, primarily on weekends. The move reflects a broader shift in the property’s focus toward organized retreats and educational wellness experiences rather than general camping accommodations.
Emma Bacon said the venue has been designed to support a variety of retreat formats, including yoga, Pilates, meditation, writing workshops, and similar activities.
“Teachers can hire the space from Friday to Sunday or Monday, and they will have full, exclusive use of the two-and-half acres, the glamping accommodation, the yoga studio and the lounge-dining area where people can have food and drinks.
“We also have an undercover gazebo with a campfire as well as other lounging areas and meditation garden,” explains Emma, who is a yoga teacher specializing in hatha flow, yin, restorative, and somatic movement practices.
According to LincsOnline, Laurel Park is no longer home to the animals that were previously part of the property, a change that supports the couple’s expanding schedule of educational retreats both in the United Kingdom and overseas.
“We no longer have the animals here, but one of the reasons for changing that is because Andy and I are now hosting our own educational retreats here in the UK and also abroad.”
In addition to making the venue available to outside instructors, Emma and Andy Bacon continue to organize their own transformational day and weekend retreats that combine yoga, somatic movement, meditation, breathwork, and philosophy. Emma also continues to host monthly half-day yoga retreats for local participants, although she no longer offers weekly yoga classes.
The couple operates Learn Live Give, a UK-based wellness and personal development initiative centered on the philosophy of “learn it, live it, give it.” Through the organization, they also lead international retreats in destinations including Sri Lanka, India, Croatia, and Spain while offering free guided meditations and community-based wellness resources.
Beyond their retreat programs, Emma and Andy co-host the Yoga Matters Podcast, which has produced 76 episodes exploring yoga philosophy, wellness practices, and related topics for audiences with varying levels of experience.
“It’s designed for curious minds at every stage of their journey, whether they’re a seasoned practitioner or someone who’s never set foot on a yoga mat,” adds Emma.
The couple is also preparing to release two books later this year. Emma’s book, Beyond the Posture, examines how yoga philosophy can be applied to everyday life, while Andy’s forthcoming title is intended to introduce yoga philosophy to readers who may be skeptical of the subject through a practical and approachable perspective.
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality and glamping sectors, Laurel Park’s transition reflects a growing diversification strategy within the industry. As operators look beyond traditional overnight stays, exclusive-use wellness retreats and instructor-led experiences can create additional revenue opportunities, particularly during shoulder seasons or periods of lower leisure demand.
Facilities such as glamping accommodations, dedicated studios, communal gathering spaces, and outdoor amenities can be repurposed to attract specialized groups, allowing operators to serve niche markets while maximizing occupancy through event-based bookings. The model also illustrates how partnerships with independent retreat organizers can broaden a property’s customer base without requiring operators to develop every program in-house.