Hedges & Hurdles runs inclusive, nature-based corporate away days at Birtley Woodland Art Space, Albury Organic Vineyard, RHS Garden Wisley, Denbies Wine Estate and Buckland Park Lake in Surrey, all within about an hour of central London. Teams try heritage countryside crafts and wellbeing activities led by expert local tutors.
I’m fast approaching my tenth year at Hedges & Hurdles, and it’s amazing to think how much our country skills and crafts business has evolved over the past decade! What started out as a hedgelaying training provider today brings together a range of experiences in nature, delivered by Team Hedges & Hurdles – our talented network of independent specialists.
In response to the demand for more memorable, eco-conscious corporate events rooted in heritage, we made the decision to diversify the business and offer away days with a difference to corporate clients.
Now, we deliver unique experience packages in nature to corporate and private groups at our partner sites in Surrey, including Denbies Wine Estate, Buckland Park Lake and RHS Garden Wisley
As we gear up to launch even more experience packages for corporate clients in the New Year, I wanted to reflect on our business journey, the unique benefits that experiences in nature offer to groups, and why Surrey is the perfect setting!
Our story: from hedgelaying to corporate away days
If you’d asked me what hedgelaying and country skills were 20 years ago, I wouldn’t have had much of an answer! But a chance meeting with Paul (my now husband) on New Year’s Eve 2006 in Bletchingly started me on an unforgettable journey.
When I joined Hedges & Hurdles full-time in 2016, it was a country crafts and skills business first. Paul is an exceptional hedgelayer: he was the 2015 supreme champion and has five national titles under his belt. Through Hedges & Hurdles, he delivered important hedgelaying training across the South East.
At the start, my focus was on helping Paul commercialise the business, using my business development background. Together, we built it into one of the leading hedgelaying training providers in the South East.
I’ve always had a creative flair (it runs in my family) and a love for working with natural materials. In the early days, I’d join Paul coppicing and collect the hazel tops he didn’t need, making rustic wreaths out of them. With my friend Debbie, we continued crafting Christmas wreaths and cheese boards, and I began using Hazel we coppiced ourselves to make plant supports.
Me and Debbie coppicing for material in Norbury Park, 2017.
After a while, we started taking orders for our creations and received more local interest. That’s when we decided to start offering a Plant Support Workshop making obelisks, cloches and garden trellises. It began at Priory Farm in South Nutfield; we began using hazel and then willow coppiced by the lake. Today, it’s still my most popular workshop!
The start of lockdown in 2020 paused our workshops at Priory Farm, but during that time I sold obelisks and plants via delivery or from my front garden, which faced a lane where walkers would pass.
After restrictions lifted, I realised there was strong demand for people to learn country skills and connect with nature, so I started running more workshops at different partner locations. I had built up a good relationship with Ruth Wheeler, a woodcarver and pyrography artist, and we set about developing our independent offerings on the Birtley Estate in Bramley, which is how my main outdoor studio, Birtley Woodland Art Space, was born.
I also noticed a growing trend of private and corporate groups looking for memorable, eco-conscious team events rooted in heritage. Hedges & Hurdles, with nature and sustainability at its core, was well suited to meet this demand, so I made the decision to diversify and open up an offering for corporate clients.
One of our largest corporate events came when an agent from the other end of the country found our business and booked us for an event at Wotton House in Dorking. Their client loved it, trying their hand at various experiences including ancient firelighting, nature-themed escape rooms, willow birdfeeders and dragonflies, foraging and balm making, and more. Since then, we’ve delivered experiences to various corporate clients, including AE Expeditions, KFC and Colgate Palmolive, and several teams in the finance sector.
This year has been particularly special, as we’re now the preferred supplier of corporate experiences at two Surrey sites: Buckland Park Lake and RHS Garden Wisley (more on these below). This builds on our existing partnerships with Denbies Wine Estate and other sites across Surrey, including Albury Organic Vineyard, Norbury Park, Hogs Back Brewery and Birtley Woodland Space.
Today, we’re continuing to build our corporate experiences offering, always focusing on inclusivity and time in nature.
Why nature-based team days work
When busy office workers get out of the city and connect with nature, something special happens. They switch off, relax and get to focus on learning new skills.
While the experiences we offer differ, nature is the common thread. It’s a proven healer: studies show that being in a natural setting helps calm us, reduces overthinking and restores our attention and focus. All of these offer huge upsides to busy teams.
I’ve seen the benefits of spending time in nature first-hand. Before Hedges & Hurdles, I worked in demanding international business development roles in the scholarly publishing industry. Spending long days at my laptop, I suffered from lower back problems, severe neck and shoulder pain and RSI.
For me, gardening and outdoor activities were always my outlet. Today I’m able to work outside and in nature more often, which has improved my health and mobility.
But nature’s benefits for busy teams go beyond improved mental clarity, reduced stress and enhanced wellbeing. There’s a key business benefit too, with 84% of companies agreeing that events in natural settings improve worker productivity.
In today’s world, we don’t get the opportunity to disconnect and learn a new skill often enough, and that’s especially true of inner-city workers surrounded by technology.
Team Hedges & Hurdles helps teams of all kinds switch off and enjoy experiences in nature. Our experiences are inclusive, with options for every fitness level, including seated activities, so nobody is left out. We’ve delivered corporate away days for a range of businesses, from household FMCG brands to teams in the finance sector.
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Corporate experiences we offer in Surrey
We’re proud to offer a range of experiences across our key sites, partnering with suppliers who have existing relationships with our venues. They all form part of Team Hedges & Hurdles.
At the heart of what we do are heritage countryside crafts, including willow sculptures and crafts, woodland skills workshops, seasonal wreath making and bushcraft.
Our most recent partnership with RHS Garden Wisley adds some fantastic experiences for corporate groups, led by our passionate team of professionals who are experts in their crafts. Here’s a snapshot of what we now offer at this world-class garden near Woking:
- Pyrography – Creativity, concentration and the satisfaction of making something by hand
- Nordic walking – Active, accessible, outdoors and sociable
- Forest bathing – Slowing down, nature connection and switching off
- OneWheel – Fun, challenging and trying something genuinely different
- Yoga – Movement, balance, relaxation and wellbeing
- Flower crowns – Creativity, natural materials and a shared experience
- Qigong – Gentle movement, mindfulness and restoring energy
- Meditation – Calm, grounding and stepping away from everyday pressures
- Gong Baths – Vibrations of the gong guide participants into relaxation and balance.
- and more …
Part of what I love most about delivering experiences to corporate and private groups is the chance to share traditional countryside skills and crafts. Raising awareness of the need to preserve heritage skills has remained an important part of our business.
Where we run corporate away days in Surrey
We’re lucky to be based in the beautiful county of Surrey, and have built some really special partnerships with sites and associations in the area. Our three key sites for corporate away days cover a nice stretch of the county:
- RHS Garden Wisley – We partnered with this world-class garden near Woking this year.
- Denbies Wine Estate – This year we welcomed several corporate groups to this beautiful vineyard just outside Dorking.
- Buckland Park Lake – One of our newest partner venues, it boasts gorgeous outdoor spaces, and its lake also happens to be my favourite spot for an open water swim!
- Albury Organic Vineyard – Hosting our Willow & Wine Workshops with optional wine tasting and vineyard tours.
- Birtley Woodland Art Space – Our woodland studio based on the 48-acre Birtley Estate in Bramley, a picturesque location with its own lake and surrounded by birdsong.
All five venues are within about an hour of central London by public transport, which makes them easy for teams to reach without a car.
Our Surrey partners and awards
We’re proud partners of Surrey Hills Enterprises (SHE) and have been a member for nearly ten years. In 2025, we were delighted to win the Surrey Hills Gold Trademark Award for Collaboration & Sustainability at the SHE Summer Gala. This is the highest accolade given to SHE members, and it was a real honour for Paul and me to be recognised for Hedges & Hurdles’ sustainability efforts and our contributions to the Surrey Hills. Our Proudly Surrey Hills mark shows our commitment to the area.
We also enjoy a long-standing partnership with Surrey Wildlife Trust, which cares for wildlife on over 60 nature reserves in Surrey. Paul has trained most of Surrey Wildlife Trust’s staff in hedgelaying, many to the National Hedgelaying Society‘s Lantra-certified Bronze award.
In addition, we are a featured partner and experience provider with Visit Surrey, Surrey’s official tourist board.
FAQs: corporate away days in Surrey
How far are your venues from London? All venues are within about an hour of central London by public transport. Denbies is a 15-minute walk from Dorking station, RHS Garden Wisley is reached by train to Woking then the RHS shuttle bus, and Buckland Park Lake is a short taxi ride from Reigate station.
What group sizes do you cater for? An average group size usually ranges from 45 to 85, but smaller and larger groups can be accommodated, from 12 to 200, depending on the location.
Are the activities accessible and inclusive? Yes. We offer a choice of activities for different fitness levels, including seated options, so everyone can take part.
Do away days run all year round? Yes, we run away days all year round. While we love taking clients out into nature, some experiences can take place inside.
What’s included? Choose from our tailored corporate packages or work with us to create a bespoke sustainable experience tailored to your team’s values and goals. All of our experiences are delivered in inspiring, natural settings, ensuring your event supports local landscapes and leaves a positive impact. Catering is available with seasonal dining experiences including picnics, BBQ’s, cream teas and buffets.
Conclusion
The Hedges & Hurdles of today looks very different to how it did ten years ago. But our mission remains the same: connecting more people with experiences in nature and preserving countryside skills.
With bookings open for corporate events across our Surrey sites, get in touch today to find out how Team Hedges & Hurdles can give your employees a memorable away day in nature.
To keep updated on our latest corporate experiences and packages, subscribe to our corporate newsletter.
About the author: Lorraine Ellery Matthews is co-founder of Hedges & Hurdles, which she has run with her husband, champion hedgelayer Paul Matthews, for nearly ten years.
Me and Paul at Surrey Hills Enterprises Summer Gala, 2025.
