our team and vacancies

tim bowles - campwell founder

Hi there, I’m Tim.

Growing up as the fifth generation on our family farm near Bath, the land runs through my blood. As a kid, I had an almost obsessive love for making campfires—our farm was my playground, where I felt most alive and free. The warmth on my face from the crackling fire and seeing the dirt under my nails – those were golden memories that were best shared with my Dad, friends and family.

As I grew older, life pulled me back indoors from those simple pleasures. The fast-paced and exciting working world of London’s advertising scene and then Hong Kong’s wine trade. They brought success on paper for many years but inside I was craving another life.

In 2013, I took a leap – moving back home with my girlfriend, Jojo, (now my wife) to rediscover myself. I started creating an off-grid retreat on the farm called ‘The Farm Camp’—focused on nature, simplicity, and slow living. Campfires were the heart, reminding us to be present, breathe, and truly enjoy the moment.

By 2016, we launched ‘Campwell,’ hosting wellbeing retreats that blended digital detoxes, breathwork and open-hearted conversations around fire. Those moments were magic – reigniting the embers in me. In 2019, we expanded, rebranding to ‘Campwell Farm’ and launching our second site, ‘Campwell Woods’. Our guests tell us that being here brings a rare sense of peace, clarity, and deeper connections – often life-changing. That’s what we hope to share: a place to reconnect with what makes us feel truly alive.

I often wake up now with the smell of campfire smoke still in my hair and a sense that I’m on the right path – one rooted in simplicity, peace and joy. A life I would love my children to experience. A world where slowing down, breathing deeply, and reconnecting isn’t just for escapes but a way of being.

My own journey hasn’t been smooth. Modern life brought battles with anxiety and distraction, pulling me from what really matters. But I keep grounded by being outdoors, through movement, breathwork, meditation, and being in community (like IceBreakers, which I proudly co-founded in 2020). I’ve found my way back to feeling more alive and free again – even since becoming a Dad, which has been both the toughest and most precious thing, teaching me to savour the present moments and nurture what truly matters.

Today, I believe many of the world’s challenges – personal, social, environmental, all stem from forgetting our roots. We’ve lost our connection to nature, each other, and ourselves. But I think we can rediscover our way by embracing less – less clutter, less noise and more presence, more simplicity, more authenticity in how we choose to live.

It took great courage stepping off the well-trodden path, prioritising real bonds, and choosing a life that feels vibrant and whole. It’s about returning to our roots, slowing down, and reclaiming what’s been forgotten in the rush.

We hope to see you by the fire sometime.

harriet tate - chief of sauna and sites

Harriet brings a great energy to the team and leads the site and sauna management as well as bookings.

She is wearing many hats at Campwell, along with helping on the farm and helping run farm activities with Farmcraft. She can most often be found at Hartley Farm getting a top up of various treats.

pam waight - chief of guest experience

Pam joined the team at the farm camp in 2018 being another great recruit from Winsley village. She too was keen to be outdoors, and help prepare our spaces for arrivals after a long career in the events industry. Now, she has stepped up as a chief of bookings, events and guest experiences. Her 2 sons, Angus and Campbell are energetic young lads who come to help at the camps and sauna when things are busy.

grace burrows - chief of bizz ops

Born and bred Londoner who moved to Somerset 4 years ago to really start living life. Lover of nature and people, community of all things is where her passion lies. When not working at Campwell, Grace can be found working at Advaya or trooping the countryside with her nature loving son, Dusty.

Grace supports Campwell with overall business operations and business development. Her favourite thing about Campwell is the natural escape found so close to the city… and the team sauna every Wednesday!

tim gatfield - cherry wood founder

Tim Gatfield first became involved with green woodwork in 2000, having worked as a cabinet maker for 12 years. With a longtime interest in conservation, rural and craft skills, and a more sustainable way of life, Tim fulfilled his dream of owning his own woodland when he purchased Cherry Wood in 2005 (now ‘campwell woods’) with the intention of managing the wood and setting up a school to teach green woodworking skills to others, and pass on the pleasure of living and working in the woods. A previous career in the army had given him valuable knowledge of bushcraft and living outdoors, which he could pass on to his students.

Over the following 14 years the “Cherry Wood Project” has run some 350+ courses with nearly 3000 students and many hundreds of school children’s activity days. Many, many volunteers have helped to restore the wood back to a coppice rotation and build the sustainable structures using materials from the wood. The adjective most used by visitors and participants alike is ‘inspirational’ and indeed many have found their time at Cherry Wood to be life-changing.  In 2018 it was rated in the “10 of the Best Creative Retreats in UK and Europe.”

Tim will now split his time between Cherry Wood and Devon. Cherry Wood is now called Campwell Woods and run by Tim Bowles with a similar ethos and it remains largely unchanged.

sophie pitt - chief of social media and marketing

Grew up in Bath, and has recently moved back to Wiltshire after a long stint in London and a shorter one in New York. Listens to ALOT of podcasts, enjoys finding great new food and keeping up with her garden. She is the eyes and mind behind our social media, mailers and supports with our broader marketing decisions

kyan and nyla - cherry woods site supervisor

Kyan and Nyla are a key part of the Cherry Wood team and ensure that guests arrive to a beautiful but wild space in our magical woodland. She is passionate about wellbeing and nutrition and loves being outdoors.

sophie devlyn - camp host and nature connection facilitator

Sophie is a nature connection facilitator, retreat chef and forest school leader. Since moving to Campwell in the spring, Sophie has been exploring the joys of fire cooking and forest bathing. She’s also a bloomin good singer and often leads groups with shanty singing around the campfire. Sophie has also developed a passion and skill in guided journalling and intention-setting workshops held in the woods.

chris baker - camp host

Chris is an all round business whizz. A long-term Campwell family member, Chris has always had some sort of role at the farm since he was a 15 years old. Chris has recently started a business 1Acre, a wellbeing venue consultancy startup.

Chris is the soul of the team, always bringing joy and laughter everywhere he goes.

jamie - cherry woods caretaker

Jamie ensures that cherry wood is kept running smoothly by building, fixing up and maintaining the place. He’s a super talented joiner/ carpenter and makes some of the best sash windows in Bath – his side hustle ;)