Category: Meetings and Events

As part of our drive to host more sustainable and socially responsible events we are now offering a number of carbon neutral activities to our customers.

Our events partner, Eventive, have a menu of carbon neutral activities including camp creation, outdoor cooking, treasure hunts and alternative musical workshops.

Our beautiful 4,000-acre estate featuring parkland, woodland and lakes lends itself perfectly to outdoor activities and in a bid to preserve our estate we are delighted to be able to offer these activities to corporate clients or anyone looking to have fun outdoors.

Get your team together for some Nomadic Camp Creation and build a Gypsy ‘Bender’ shelter campfire, before turning your hand to  Gourmet Bush Cooking providing lunch for your group.

Image by Studio Rouge

An exciting, innovative and challenging team activity, the objective is to build a wooden gypsy ‘Bender’ similar to a yurt.

Director of Eventive, James Stone, says: “As well as being great fun this is a natural and effective team building activity.”

“It is also used as an intelligent or learning event with specific focus on team development, leadership development, the human side of project management, and as a kick start in changing brand values,” adds James, who says every participant has the opportunity to be hands on in terms of the construction and raising of the Bender.

With the popularity of outdoor cooking on the rise, guests will be introduced to the art of open fire cooking including preparing the fire and utensils, different methods of cooking and enjoying some unusual tasty global recipes.

Sip nettle tea while trying your hand at cooking up a variety of gourmet wild foods including rabbit and venison or make your own flatbreads, pizzas, kebabs and stews.

Other carbon neutral activities now available include the ever-popular Treasure Hunt which takes place around the fantastic grounds of the estate, and the traditional Team Challenge Event. 

Treasure hunts are created on a scatter hunt principle with each team having a specialised map with landmarks highlighted. A mixture of basic orienteering skills and common sense guides each team to a different location. The teams are also given a number of photographs, taken from unusual positions, from which they have to identify objects and their location.

Image by Studio Rouge

A question sheet is provided with some cryptic clues, some general knowledge, photographic or investigative and these are used to build up points. In addition, various novelty items have to be found during the hunt to enhance their scores.

James says: “The clues are devised so that all levels of participants can achieve satisfying results.  Whilst competitive, this rewarding event makes an enjoyable break.

“We can tailor our treasure hunts for individual companies with branding, historical information, colours and personalities included in the hunt,” he adds.

Our colleagues at Eventive have also developed a series of army officer style training tasks for corporate activity days.

James explains participants still want to have fun although the overriding theme is to get them working together and appreciating each other’s strengths and development needs.

“Working with instructors from Sandhurst Military Academy we believe that we have devised modifications to the tasks to make them much less physical and a more fun brain-teasing activity”, says James, adding: “Each task will be staffed by an experienced instructor who will assess their performance and mark them for comparison with other teams if required. A light-hearted, to the point, de-brief will be given afterwards.”

Image by Studio Rouge

For people looking for a more creative activity, the Drum and Rhythm Workshop is hugely enjoyable and provides and unusual take on team building.

The drum workshops specialise in team building, communication, creativity, relaxation, cooperation and is also really good fun.

James explains: “For years, in tribes and communities when people have come together the effects are more than just rhythm. Drumming brings together communities to celebrate, relieve stress, develop communication skills, to energise and encourage bonding.”

Image by Studio Rouge

Eventive have replaced fossil fuel based activities with battery-powered, renewable energy vehicles such as the Off Road Segways which still provide the thrills, without the environmental damage.

For further information on all corporate activities available at Wasing please email venue@wasing.co.uk

We all know the importance of physical exercise, but it’s just as important to keep your brain healthy too following lockdown.

After weeks of being home watching endless box sets it’s easy to become lethargic and reach for convenience food; but if you are looking to boost your brain power to keep you motivated and focused our Executive Chef, Stuart Tyler, has come up with top tips to eat your way to improved productivity and concentration.

1. Start your day with a breakfast smoothie providing a power packed start to the day. Smoothies are full of nutrients and will stop you craving junk food. Try blending kale, blueberries, mango yoghurt and chia seeds.
2. Ensure you are getting you essential vitamins, nutrients and quality proteins by preparing a healthy meal of smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, crushed avocado and sourdough. The smoked salmon is rich in omega 3 fatty acids that can help fight depression and anxiety. The eggs are packed with proteins, vitamins and minerals and avocado is a great source of vitamin C, E, K and B6 supporting your immune system, improving your mood and promoting brain health. Sourdough helps promote good gut health due to the long fermentation process.
3. Stay alert by taking a break from working from home or schooling the children and enjoy a large black coffee. Not only will it keep you alert but it contains antioxidants.

During lockdown, Stu has been away from our kitchens working on new and exciting menus for future corporate and retreat guests to the estate. We thought you might like some inspiration to try some of these healthy dishes for yourselves.

Sample Retreat Menu

Breakfast

Ditch the sugar-filled crunchy nut cornflakes for one of these nutrient-rich breakfasts.

Local smoked trout with boiled eggs

Feta cheese, roasted peppers, watermelon, olives and vine tomatoes

Toasted sourdough, crushed avocado, poached eggs, tomato chilli and coriander salsa

Snacks

Swap your tea and biscuits for a healthy snack.

Vegan dark chocolate avocado cake with chocolate frosting

Chunky peanut butter on wedges of Granny Smith apples

Sriracha spiced popcorn

Salads

There is more to salad than lettuce, tomato and cucumber.

Puy lentils with baby artichokes and sun blushed tomatoes

Quinoa, pomegranate seeds, cucumber and mint

Hermitage tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil vinaigrette

Lunch

Exchange your cheese sandwich and a packet of crisp for something to energise your brain.

Stuff tacos with Teriyaki grilled salmon, kimchi, garlic mayonnaise and crispy shallots

Sauté king prawns with lemon, garlic, parsley and serve simply on a bed of cos lettuce, top with a Caesar dressing, croutons and bacon lardons

Oven backed enchiladas stuffed with smoky bean chilli served with a tomato and coriander salsa

Dinner

With time on our hands we have time to be more adventurous in the kitchen. Try these alternatives to your regular spaghetti bolognese.

Jerk marinated chicken thighs, Caribbean spiced BBQ sauce, black eyed beans, short-grain rice and crunched sour salad

Chilli, lime, ginger and soy sauce sautéed king prawns with Asian noodle salad and coriander salsa

Roasted aubergine, chickpea, butternut squash Thai Massaman curry with sticky jasmine rice and crushed toasted peanuts

Dessert

For those with a sweet tooth.

Black cherry, dark chocolate brownie with salted caramel ice-cream

Grilled pineapple with crushed roasted almonds and vegan vanilla ice-cream

Roasted pumpkin with maple syrup, tahini dressing, crushed macadamia nuts and pumpkin seeds

If you would like to hold a corporate or leisure retreat at Wasing contact venue@wasing.co.uk

Eating well has never been so forefront in people’s minds than it is right now. Consuming certain foods can support a healthy immune system and improve your overall wellbeing.

Often people talk about oranges and other fruits being great providers of essential vitamins, however there are lots of other foods we can eat including spinach, broccoli and strawberry that have a lot of vitamins as well.

It’s also good to consider consumption in general when looking to stay fit and well, for example drinking plenty of water and reducing salt and alcohol is also advised.

Our Executive Chef, Stuart Tyler, has put together a list of food and dishes to help keep your immune system in tip top shape.

Immune Boosters:

Citrus fruits – Vitamin C

Red bell peppers – Beta carotene

Broccoli – Antioxidants

Garlic – lower blood pressure

Ginger – Good for sore throats

Spinach – Vitamin A

Yogurt – Vitamin D

Almonds – Vitamin E

Sunflowers seeds – Vitamin B6, Magnesium

Turmeric – Anti inflammatory

Green tea – Antioxidant

Papaya – Potassium

Kiwi – Vitamin K

Poultry – Vitamin B9

Shellfish – Zinc

Get your fibre in

When looking at a healthy and balanced diet, make sure you are getting enough fibre.

Fibre is found in whole grains (oats, rye, quinoa, brown rice), root vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, squash), fruits (apples, pears, banana), cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts) and legumes (red beans, lentils) – all good sources.

Protein power

Protein is made up of amino acids, which are required for proper functioning of the immune system. Deficiency of essential amino acids may lower immune function capabilities. Foods such as fish, chicken, eggs, yogurt, and cottage cheese provide all eight essential amino acids, making them well worth stocking up on.

Stuart says: “Feeding your body with certain foods, helps keep your immune system strong. My suggested dishes should help prevent colds, flu and other infections.”

Try out some simple immune-boosting dishes

Stuff delicious red bell peppers with king prawns and crab dressed in citrus and turmeric yogurt. Serve with wilted spinach, broccoli and almond pesto.

Try making green tea panna cotta with ginger, lime and grapefruit marinated exotic fruits with a crunchy toasted sunflower seed crumble.

Stuart is the executive chef at Wasing Park and caterers for corporate events and retreats.

To host an event with us, email venue@wasing.co.uk

As the lockdown is gradually lifted and we return to some sense of normality, now is the perfect time to reconnect with colleagues after months of separation whilst working from home.

Video calls and emails are no substitute for colleagues connecting effectively together. Some will have had to work in challenging environments over the last few months, whilst others will have no doubt felt the effects on their mental health from being isolated for so long.

Wasing offers the perfect opportunity to reset and refocus on the business bringing your team back together. We have the most incredible outdoor spaces to host business meetings including a stretch tent on the back of the Castle Barn and at the Woodland venue under canvas. Alternatively, the Garden Room with its two walls of glass bi-fold doors and the Meeting Room with its sets of French doors, both offer spaces with plenty of ventilation. Combine your agenda alongside enjoying some alternative team building, mindful events, walking, yoga, treasure hunts and the expansive beauty of our private 4,000 acre estate.

Wellbeing

We are lucky enough to have an on-site yoga teacher at Wasing, expert in the knowledge of the disciplines of traditional Hatha Yoga and Hatha Flow movement.

Operating from the beautiful countryside studio, Jill offers yoga, mindfulness and meditation classes tailored to your specific needs.

At Wasing we are blessed with a huge expanse of parkland, woodland, forests and lakes offering the perfect sanctuary for forest bathing.

Originally a Japanese practice known as shinrin yoko, forest bathing is a process of relaxation. The simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you whilst breathing deeply can help de-stress and boost health and wellbeing in a natural way.

 

Alternative team building events

As part of a drive to host more sustainable and socially responsible events, we are now offering a number of carbon neutral activities. Our events partner, Eventive, have a menu of carbon neutral activities including camp creation, outdoor cooking, treasure hunts and alternative musical workshops. Click here to find out more information on the enviromentally friendly and socially responsible teambuilding, that we can offer.

 

The beauty of Wasing

Although we are only an hour from London and just miles away from the M3 and M4 motorways, when you are on the estate you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere.

Delegates can enjoy many walks over our parkland, through woodland and past lakes while taking in the unending beautiful wildlife.

People love the peace and tranquillity of Wasing and the uniqueness of being at one with nature. Listen to birdsong whilst dining alfresco in the courtyard and look out across the lawn to our 15^th century parish church.

 

Food for the brain

Our Executive Chef, Stuart Tyler, can tailor the menus to suit your individual needs but he recognises the importance of keeping your brain healthy too.

Stuart’s menus are aimed to boost brain power and will help your team eat their way to improved productivity and concentration.

“When writing a retreat menu, my ethos is to incorporate lots of flavour, colour and seasonality to produce great looking, hearty, healthy food. However, with this in mind, all the dishes can be tweaked to suit the client. We are experts in removing the visible fats from the meats and fish, and reducing the oil content all without compromising on flavour,”

Sample Retreat Menu

Breakfast

Toasted sourdough, crushed avocado, poached eggs, tomato chilli and coriander salsa

Snack

Vegan dark chocolate avocado cake with chocolate frosting

Salad

Quinoa, pomegranate seeds, cucumber and mint

Lunch

Tacos with Teriyaki grilled salmon, kimchi, garlic mayonnaise and crispy shallots

Dinner

Chilli, lime, ginger and soy sauce sautéed king prawns with Asian noodle salad and coriander salsa

Dessert

Grilled pineapple with crushed roasted almonds and vegan vanilla ice-cream

 

The estate also boasts some very stylish accommodation offering everyone a very comfortable stay. The Stables Lodge is our boutique hotel with 26 individually designed en-suite bedrooms. The majority of the rooms open out into the open air with no shared corridor space. A further six bedrooms are available at Home Farmhouse, three at Kitts Cottage, plus tucked away at the Secret Walled Garden, is our delightful two-bedroom cottage, The Bothy. For the more adventurous, the woodland and gardens are perfect for camping or glamping with practically no upper limit on the numbers.

We know what is required for social distancing and we have acres of space to allow meetings, dining and team building to take place safely.

A corporate retreat at Wasing is the perfect reset for your business and colleagues – the ultimate team away stay.

For further information on all corporate activities available at Wasing email venue@wasing.co.uk.

 The team at Wasing has been working hard to make sure the venue is covid-secure, complying with all current regulations.

We want events to go ahead as originally planned wherever possible and not have to overly compromise. It is imperative to us that all guests feel safe and can therefore enjoy their time attending any events at Wasing. We hope our ten ways to keep you Covid-safe will re-assure you that we have really thought everything through, including investing in our outdoor spaces, so no matter what the weather, most options can still happen outside.

1. Pre-Messaging. We work with you to ensure that everyone knows what to expect. This part is critical in that no one wants nasty surprises for when they arrive. Managing expectations is key.
2. Track and trace – We have implemented the government’s NHS track and trace system. We also require in advance of events, the contact details of every guest attending events at Wasing. This data is stored securely and deleted after 21 days.
3. Indoor spaces – The Garden Room, with its two walls of glass bi-fold doors and the Meeting Room, with its 3 sets of French Doors opening on to the courtyard, are well ventilated and have been designed for maximum airflow.
4. Outdoor spaces – A stretch tent at the Woodland venue and a stretch tent on the terrace of the Castle Barn, offer the perfect spaces to host events/meetings.
5. Outdoor cooking – We offer a range of delicious meals that can be cooked over firepits, barbecues and in our wood fired oven, in the great outdoors, at all of our venues. At the Woodland we have the added benefit of an outdoor kitchen too.
6. Food – All meals can be eaten outside, under cover at the Woodland, Castle Barn Terrace and Stables Courtyard. These spaces are invaluable especially to high risk or vulnerable guests, ensuring they can relax and enjoy their food alongside other guests.
7. Hygiene – Our highly trained housekeeping team are up to date with all of the most effective cleaning techniques. They regularly clean all touch points throughout events, wear the required PPE and do not enter any guest accommodation during the event, unless requested.
8. Hands Face  Space  – We make sure that everyone is aware of social distancing requirements in a fun and engaged manner. We don’t want to ram it home, but we know it is important to re-enforce the message during the event. We will work with you to ensure that everyone gets it! The lead booker works closely with the Event Manager throughout the event to make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable. There are signs throughout the venue to remind everyone to sanitise, wear a mask, wash hands and socially distance.
9. PPE – we have all the PPE that guests need if they are feeling under equipped.
10. Keeping your guest’s immune system healthy – we have teamed up with Gusto to provide a hit of Super DC – all the key vitamin supplements including high doses of Vit C, Vid D and Zinc, helping guests to boost their immune systems.