Land of Joy exists because of generosity. It began with our spiritual guides who inspired founding members to create and build a vision for a retreat centre in the UK. Supported by the incredible generosity of early donors, that vision became something real.
Since then, the centre has been built and sustained by so many people — through donations, practical help, time, skills, encouragement, perseverance and care. It isn’t just buildings in a beautiful setting—it’s a community effort, grown and supported through the generosity model, and held in a spirit of offering.
We are incredibly grateful and humbled by everything that has been given to build this incredible place.
There’s something about this land that invites people to breathe out. Wide skies, quiet fields, the steady rhythm of nature…and space to come back to what matters. For many people, just being here brings a sense of simplicity and steadiness, a feeling of being held by the surroundings.
About The Huts
Right now, we have three retreat huts dedicated to solitary practice. They are beautiful, simple spaces that genuinely change people’s lives. They are in use all year round and often fully booked over six months in advance, reflecting what a rare and precious space they are. These huts represent more than just buildings, they’re a contribution to creating authentic opportunities for committed practitioners to actualise the teachings; providing spaces where deep practice can flourish here in the UK and across the European region.
If you’d like to learn more about the design and construction of the huts you can find further information and videos on our Constructing Retreat Huts page
For me the huts are a place of peace, solitude, warmth & friendship – but more than anything they are a safe, sacred space that encourages you to look inside; to allow your mind to be where you want it to be when you practice – to do the best you can. I’m always hugely grateful every time I go and I think how lucky we are to have that space.
Building New Huts
We’ve long held the wish to offer more of these wonderful spaces to our community. Over the past 18 months we have been gradually moving towards actualising that wish and are incredibly excited to be on the verge of making that happen, with building work scheduled to begin in June and completed in November.
We’re especially excited that these new huts will be nestled in a glade of birch trees on the edge of our woodland next to the large field the current huts overlook, slightly more secluded than the existing ones..
Why now?
Periods of solitude and retreat practice often arise at very specific moments in life, when the wish and the conditions briefly come together. At such times, timing matters. In recent years, the number of people wishing to undertake individual retreat at Land of Joy has increased, and the existing retreat huts are often fully booked, sometimes many months in advance. As a result, we are not always able to offer retreat space when it is needed.
This limits not only individual practice, but also the centre’s ability to support longer retreats and those who feel called to enter retreat at a particular moment in their lives. Building additional huts now allows us to respond to this growing need. Each hut then becomes a quiet support for many retreats over many years.
What will they cost?
Each hut will cost £50,000 to build which includes preparation costs such as planning permission (£2,300), groundworks (£13,000), hut bases (£3,000), the hut structure (£24,700), internal services (£6,000) and furnishing (£1,000).
Group retreats can be wonderful, but they can naturally create a sense of reliance. You’re carried by the schedule, by the group energy, by shared momentum. In individual retreat, you learn something very important: how to rely on yourself. You learn to stay with the practice when it’s easy….and also when it’s difficult. That self-reliance becomes a strength you carry back into everyday life
What’s Happened So Far?
✔️ A planning application has been prepared, submitted and approved
✔️ The hut supplier is prepped and awaiting our order
✔️ The tradespeople are ready to start work in late spring
✔️ The ground at the construction site has been cleared
✔️ A member of the community has offered an incredible and inspiring £40,000 (+gift aid) to sponsor a hut, helping us begin our campaign in the most amazing way. We also have £10,000 available from previous donations which brings our starting total to £60,000.
I feel very fortunate to have been able to sponsor one of the new retreat huts at Land of Joy….I’d like to think that this retreat hut will bring many benefits to whoever meditates there and that some people will develop realisations to transform their own minds – I would feel very gratified to know I’ve been able to contribute towards that.Â
The Four Stages
The journey of fundraising and creation will now pass through four stages – an initial finalisation of plans, followed by three construction stages, each with their own fundraising goals:
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Creating the foundations: £16,000
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Building the structure: £24,000
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Finishing touches: £5,000
We will be inviting our wonderful community to join us on this journey by helping us reach each of these targets through offering a donation – gradually building the second hut together.
The retreat huts at Land of Joy offer a blend of quality meals and comfortable accommodation in a serene, tranquil environment. The friendly service is available to assist with any extra needs, and the option to organise well-prepared fire pujas enhances the retreat experience. Staying at Land of Joy for a retreat is truly remarkable, as it creates ideal conditions for planting the seeds of enlightenment when meditating on the stages. Any donations toward the construction of new retreat huts will help ensure there are always optimal conditions for individuals to pursue their path to enlightenment, and one accumulates the merit for one’s own enlightenment as well. Many thanks and with prayers, Namdak
Become a Part of the Journey
As we build our new retreat huts — spaces intended to support practice, quietude, and gentle reflection — we would love for you to join the journey by contributing to the creation for the second hut
As we prepare to lay the water pipes and electrical cables, as well as installing a new sewage system and building the bases for the huts to rest on you are invited to be a part of this stage of the project to help us reach our £16,000 target. Every contribution, whatever the size, will help us on this journey.
Be a Part of the Fabric of the Building
As you make this offering, you are invited to become a part of the fabric of the building by sharing a short dedication, aspiration, or prayer to be written on the beams during construction; as an expression of intention for the benefit of all beings who will reside and practice within these walls for years to come. Simply use the comment box on the donation form to share your words.
When you donate, you’re not just helping us build a hut – you’re creating the conditions for retreat to happen again and again. From a dharma perspective it is a powerful way to make merit – because every time someone uses the hut to practice, your generosity continues to benefit them.