Last weekend we travelled to Boconnoc Estate, a beautiful, historic estate in the heart of Cornwall which has been inhabited since the time of the Domesday Book. With stunning trees dotted throughout the rolling green landscape, it was the perfect place for the very first Paradhis Festival.

Paradis Festival (aptly named after the Cornish word for paradise) welcomed 2000 people who all came together to explore different aspects of wellness, relaxation, nature and community over three days. There were six different venues at the festival as well as the iconic Boconnoc Church. Together they all hosted a huge array of workshops and classes for festival goers to dip into ranging from yoga and breathwork to meditation and a human mandala experience.

There were so many interesting activities taking place that it was hard to choose what to try next! From talks about herbalism and body magic to opportunities to learn more about the wildlife on the estate, there really was something for everyone.

Most of the activities were free but some of them required additional payment such as the massages, reiki, reflexology, sauna sessions and guided ice baths.

After we arrived we wandered past the cacao stand to take part in some mid-morning ecstatic dance before we began exploring everything the festival had to offer. Later on we sat and ate a delicious curry in the sunshine and watched a group taking part in a dynamic yoga and movement meditation workshop with Shiva Rea, a renowned yoga teacher from California.

After bumping into some friends, we followed the track down to the 800 year old Boconnoc Church for a sound bath. The church was packed with people sat on the floor in the aisles, but I managed to squeeze onto a wooden pew. The church felt old and loved, the wooden seats were smooth with use and the inscriptions on the stones we walked over were hundreds of years old. As I sat there, sunshine streaming through the stunning stain glass windows I reflected that perhaps this was just another form of worship which is why it seemed to suit the venue so much. The sound bath itself was beautiful and left me feeling rejuvenated and incredibly relaxed.

As well as all of the wellness activities on offer there was also lots of music from bands such as Afriquoi and Morcheeba. There was also a selection of delicious food and drinks and shops selling local Cornish crafts, clothes and plants.

Although Paradhis Festival wasn’t specifically aimed at children, it did have a very family friendly atmosphere. There were several kids at the festival and as well as a few games and activities specifically for them, there was also a mud kitchen (which was being well used when we walked past) and plenty of space to run around and play. We also saw some children getting henna designs on their hands, trying aerial yoga and having a boogie during the ecstatic dance.

The weather was a little hit and miss over the weekend, but it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. Paradhis is an independent three-day festival blending nature, music, and communal wellness experiences and they’re already planning next year’s event.

You can find out more about Paradhis Festival on their website here: https://www.paradhis.co.uk

Our tickets were complimentary but all views and opinions are my own.

Naomi Jones is an award-winning author and mum of two. You can find out more about her on her website and read more of her writing here.