Natural thinking: A curated playlist to help you unplug

There’s a rare joy in unplugging and surrendering to the quiet. Whether savouring a cup of coffee on your sun-dappled deck or watching the clouds from a window seat while the rain taps a rhythm on the roof, Life Space Cabins enhance the simple, unplugged pleasures of cabin life.

To help you switch off and fall in sync with cabin calm, our friends at land&water have curated an immersive, nature-attuned playlist of books, podcasts, poetry and short films. Settle in, leave your stresses behind and let the wild inspiration wash over you…

The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

American novelist, poet, farmer and environmental activist Wendell Berry’s moving verse draws on his reverence for nature and the freedom of wild places. Read, reread and let his words linger on:

“When despair grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting for their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”

How I Go to the Woods by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver can always be relied upon to see nature and show it back to us anew, and her poem about being alone in the woods (and the exceptions we make), is no exception.

“Ordinarily, I go to the woods alone, with not a single
friend, for they are all smilers and talkers and therefore
unsuitable.

I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds
or hugging the old black oak tree. I have my way of
praying, as you no doubt have yours.

Besides, when I am alone I can become invisible. I can sit
on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds,
until the foxes run by unconcerned. I can hear the almost
unhearable sound of the roses singing.

If you have ever gone to the woods with me, I must love
you very much.”

Rooted: How Regenerative Farming can Save the World by Sarah Langford

Make a cup of tea and curl up with Sarah Langford’s beautiful, eye-opening look at the crises in modern farming, from falling incomes and supermarkets pushing prices lower to grappling with livestock diseases and the effects of the pandemic.

A former barrister and author who moved from London to the Suffolk countryside in 2017 with her family, Langford weaves together her own story of returning to the land with the difficult but also inspiring experiences shared by the farmers she talks to. Her bestselling account shines a compassionate light on the farming sector today, as well as demonstrating the often overshadowed bonds between land, farmer/producer and consumer.

The Book of Wilding: A Practical Guide to Rewilding, Big and Small by Isabella Tree and Charlie Burrell

Sitting by the fire or gazing out at your surroundings, The Book of Wilding makes for a galvanizing read.

From their pioneering project at Knepp in Sussex, Isabella Tree and Charlie Burrell know first hand how spectacularly nature can bounce back if we only give it a chance. Ambitious, visionary and pragmatic, the Book of Wilding is a handbook for how we can all help restore nature. Inspired by the requests they receive from people wanting to learn how to rewild everything from unprofitable farms, landed estates and rivers to ponds, allotments, churchyards, urban parks, gardens, window boxes and public spaces, The Book of Wilding has the answers.

The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot by Robert Macfarlane

Owning a Life Space Cabin is an invitation to rediscover the natural world, and Robert Macfarlane’s The Old Ways is a fitting companion for such an adventure. This captivating book takes you along Britain’s ancient paths, holloways, drove-roads and sea routes – uncovering lost stories, pilgrimages and rituals and encouraging a deeper connection to the land by exploring it on foot.

Burning Questions of Our Time by The TED Radio Hour 

Exploring the burning questions of our time with the help of the world’s most brilliant minds, this illuminating series combines the best-ever TED talks with interviews and fresh insights in 50-minute listens. Each episode offers the unexpected – from the mysteries of underwater caves to how kelp farming could transform our future.

A Short History of Solitude – BBC Radio 4

Desert-dwelling hermits, Robinson Crusoe on his island and the nature-worshipping Romantic poets… This richly researched and philosophical radio documentary series tells tales of solitude that remind us there are many ways of being alone – and that even the most extreme forms of voluntary solitude can be surprisingly social.

How Fungi Make Our Worlds: Merlin Sheldrake at the Bioneers Conference

Most fungi live out of sight, yet they sustain nearly all living systems. Merlin Sheldrake’s fascinating talk at the 2024 Bioneers Conference explores the wonders of underground fungal networks and their role in supporting life on earth. This recording reminds us of how interconnected all life is – and how much we stand to lose without including fungi in our conservation and climate change efforts.

Defining a ‘dose’ of nature by Blue Earth

Research by psychologists at the University of Exeter reveals that spending just two hours a week in nature significantly enhances health and wellbeing. Listen in as Dr. Mathew White breaks it down.

Born on the shoreline, land&water evokes that warm glow after time in the elements. Our collection of natural, vegan bath and body products uses pure essential oils for fresh skin invigoration and an elevated sense of wellbeing. We have a small-batch philosophy built on craftsmanship, chemistry and commitment. Each product’s development is rigorous, each ingredient is sustainably sourced, and each recipe is ethical and natural.

Book a stay with Life Space Cabins sister company, Rusty Sheds, and experience our craftsmanship first hand. Nestled in an unspoilt corner of coast and countryside, these two luxury cabins offer all the comforts you could wish for—including exclusive Land & Water products. Spend your days lazing in a woodland hammock, strolling the coastal path, paddling upriver, or simply curling up with a good book in the cabin’s window seat. However you choose to unwind, you’ll have everything you need for an idyllic escape where you can really unplug.