About Us
Take Time Out - Pastoral Retreat

About Us

Who am I?
My name is Janice and my husband is Bill. I am an ordained supernumerary Minister stationed to the Christchurch & Wimborne Circuit with permission to offer retreat ministry from our home. I was licenced as a local preacher in 1995, ordained in 2006 and have served ten years in full-time circuit ministry. I was born and educated in Poole, Dorset, but my life experience and ministry has been multifarious. My CV extends across age groups, gender, faith systems and establishments. For those interested in academic qualifications, I have an MA in Christian spirituality, a BSc hons in Psychology, a Diploma in Ministry & Mission, a couple of GCSE’s and various other certificates in listening & counselling! My husband is a consultant engineer running his own international company, Morgan Design Analysis Ltd, from our home and we have five children.

Location:
Half Acre is in Horton Heath, which is situated in rural East Dorset, formerly part of the Earl of Shaftsbury’s estate. It nestles on the borders of Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, only 6 miles from Wimborne Minster in Dorset and 7 miles from Ringwood in Hampshire. The New Forest National Park is 9 miles away; Bournemouth 16 miles and Poole 19 miles.

Half Acre has a public footpath along the edge of the property, which leads out to Holt Heath, a national designated Nature Reserve managed by the National Trust. As one of Dorset’s largest areas of heathland it provides habitats for a wide range of plants, birds and animals, including Sand Lizards and Dartford Warblers. It offers plenty of marked footpaths and bridleways across the heath that can be walked, cycled or ridden, including to Horton Tower, reputed to be haunted but currently hosting the Vodafone mast! A trigonometry point on the top of the heath offers views of the Isle of Wight. On the other side of the road are various walks ranging over Horton Heath, a similar experience to that of Holt Heath.

We are blessed with several good local pubs offering excellent restaurant food or pub-grub. Hilliers Garden Centre is just up the road and has a very good café and various outlets including outdoor clothing, designer fashions and a hairdresser.

Places of Interest
Moors Valley Country Park is 2 miles away with a model train ride, mini golf course, tree-top & adventure walks, Go-Ape, Segway, with various adventure walks and playgrounds for littlies and older children. It also hosts a good day-time café with reasonably priced meals.

Other local places of interest include Remedy Oak and a golf course at Crane Valley. The ancient town of Wimborne Minster hosts a colourful three day market and Ringwood, another ancient town also hosts a street market. 

The New Forest National Park is famous for its wild ponies, deer, quaint villages and inns. Horse drawn wagon rides are available in Burley, just outside Ringwood. The Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park in Verwood and the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu are both short drives away. 

Bournemouth and Poole host all the trimmings of friendly seaside resorts. Poole Harbour is the second largest natural harbour in the world and the award-winning beach at Sandbanks has the most expensive land per hectare in the world! It also operates a chain ferry across to Shell Bay another national reserve, with its wide beach and golden sand dunes. Corfe Castle is at the end of this road with a lay-by overlooking the islands contained in Poole Harbour. Bournemouth is also blessed with the lovely sandy beaches of the Chines, promenade & cliff-top walks, along with a pier theatre.

The Jurassic coastline offers several sites of interest: Kimmeridge bay; Lulworth Cove; Durdle Door; and Chesil Beach, depending on how far you want to travel.

The historic city of Salisbury is a 30 minute drive away offering good dining and a superb variety of shopping. Its splendid Cathedral hosts the tallest spire in England. The iconic historical site of Stonehenge is also a 30 minute drive away.

Along the coast is Christchurch with its pretty river and Lymington with its yacht marina and ferry across to the Isle of Wight, which takes approximately 45-minutes.

Retreats
Retreats are led by me or can be DIY by request, and I am very much open to delivering whatever the individual, family or small group feel they need or would like from a retreat, including spiritual direction.
  • Residential retreats are normally run from Tuesday 12mid-day to Friday 12mid-day, but this is flexible. offering self-catering accommodation for up to 7 people. A welcome pack comprising of Tea, coffee, milk, and home-made bread, appropriate for the number of people staying, is provided on arrival. 
  • Day retreats are run from 10am arrival to 4pm. Tea & coffee are provided and the day includes a soup & roll lunch, and closing refreshments. Half Acre can accommodate up to 12 people and larger groups can be accommodated at the local chapel on request, both with ample parking.
  • Mobile retreats I am also available to travel to you and lead day or weekend retreats in your church or circuit by request. Travel expenses would need to be paid and accommodation provided for weekend retreats. 

Amenities
• Oil fired central heating & hot water and a wood burning stove in the lounge
• Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, dish washer, washing machine, TV with Freeview,        DVD & Video, WiFi, extensive selection of indoor & outdoor games, use of private library.
• Power and logs for the wood burner are provided
• All bed linen and towels are provided
• Plenty of off-road parking
• Bikes available on request
• Outdoor barbecue and fire-pit available on request
• Note: Sloping ceilings in 1st floor bedrooms and bathroom
• Note: There are horses in the surrounding fields from time to time; for your own safety, please do not      feed them or walk across the field when they are present.

Accommodation: sleeps 7 people + a travel cot

Ground floor Entrance through ....
  • Conservatory with washing machine (treadmill; by appointment after safety instruction)
  • Separate Shower room with fully tiled shower, hand basin & WC
  • Fully Equipped fitted Kitchen 
  • Double bedroom with double bed
  • Large lounge with wood burner, dining table and chairs; patio doors out to grounds
  • Personal Library: open to residents during stay, but books not to be taken off the premises.

First floor ...
  • Family Room with double bed & single bed; plus room for a travel cot if required (available on request).
  • 2x Single Rooms, each comprising of a single bed and fitted wardrobe
  • Family Bathroom with shower over P shaped bath, hand basin & WC 

Grounds…

Set in approximately ½ an Acre, laid mostly to lawn, and surrounded by fields.
Summer house with electrics for lighting & heating.
Fixed benches on the sleepers along the reflective bank.
Two garden benches & various other garden furniture including gazebos on request.
Share by: