Brief
Charlotte Church announces closure of The Dreaming wellness retreat
The Dreaming, opened in 2023 at Rhydoldog House, will pause operations while the founder reassesses its offerings.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Welsh singer Charlotte Church said her The Dreaming wellness retreat will close for a period of "hibernation" after four years of operation, citing "exponentially complexifying crises" that are affecting the venture.
What happened
The Dreaming opened its doors in April 2023 at Rhydoldog House, the former home of designer Laura Ashley, after Church purchased the property in 2021. The retreat, which was featured in a Discovery Channel documentary, offered a mix of paid programmes and free‑to‑attend sessions for NHS workers and activists. In a statement posted on social media on 15 October 2026, Church explained that the retreat would pause to "reassess what it is we should be offering" and to "listen deeply to the earth" before returning.
What the reports add
The Independent noted that guests have described the experience as "unexpected, exquisite, life‑changing" but that the environment has changed "a different world today than the one we started off in just a short half decade ago". The statement also referenced a metaphor of composting and mulching, suggesting a period of rest before new projects are launched. The article mentioned that some retreat spaces remain available for bookings before the end of the year.
What was said
Church’s statement read: "Through the harvest season, it is important to discern what requires attention from that which is falling away, what needs to be put to compost. We need the chance to compost, mulch, go fallow, listen deeply to the earth, so that we can germinate new dreams for the future." The release added, "And so we must dream. And to do so we must hibernate. We cannot say when exactly we will be returning from the dream realm, but return we shall." The statement concluded with a "deep and loving thank you" to supporters.
How it came about
The closure follows a separate dispute over Church’s "forest school" project, the Awen Project, which was forced to relocate after a planning‑permission issue in Vale of Glamorgan Council. The outdoor learning centre, opened in Wenvoe in 2024, had its retrospective change‑of‑use application rejected over transport safety and noise concerns. Church has continued to balance her music career, television appearances and political activism while managing these ventures.
Key facts
- The Dreaming wellness retreat will pause operations for an undefined period. (independent.co.uk)
- The retreat opened in April 2023 at Rhydoldog House, the former home of Laura Ashley. (independent.co.uk)
- Church cited "exponentially complexifying crises" as the reason for the hibernation. (independent.co.uk)
- The Awen Project, a forest school founded by Church, was forced to move after a planning‑permission dispute. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Charlotte Church forced to close her wellness retreat”
