Charlotte Church has reportedly spent £1.5m on setting up a "radical" community in a grand country house that once belonged to fashion icon Laura Ashley.
The 35-year-old singer aims to transform the picturesque 47-acre Powys property into a haven where people can "reconnect with themselves and the natural world" following a turbulent year brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Described by the singer as a "non-hierarchical participatory democracy," it will be based at Rhydoldog House in the Elan Valley and is set to include mixed martial arts, spiritual healing practices like yoga and a creative space for writers, musicians and artists.
Mother-of-three Charlotte is also planning cycling, archery, foraging, hiking, strength and conditioning training and star-gazing at the luxury estate, as well as introducing a hot-tub, plunge pool and outdoor cinema..
The seven bedroom, three storey mansion was formerly owned by late fashion designer Laura Ashley - who died in 1985 after a fall at her daughter's home in the Cotswolds - but was put on the market for an estimated £1.2m in the autumn of 2009 following the death of the designer's husband Sir Bernard Ashley.
Also on the property is a helicopter landing area and a 200-year-old barn which will be converted into a large hall for gatherings and events, along with a row of four guest houses and an artist's residence.
"At Rhydoldog House, a small, democratic building community is welcoming volunteers to live, work and learn on a radical and inspiring new wellness project: building an accessible, zero-emissions, off-grid, healing retreat centre in the heart of Wales," revealed Charlotte via social media.
“Immersed in 47 acres of dramatic ancient woodland, surrounded by waterfalls, red kites circling above and beneath an internationally recognised dark sky, we are offering a huge array of activities and disciplines for people looking to reconnect with themselves and the natural world after the last year of lockdowns.
“Our vision for this community is one that can support the physical, spiritual, mental and emotional needs of all its members. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, please check out our website.
"We’d love to hear from you all.”
A further online statement read, "Our community will be held together by a system of non-hierarchical participatory democracy, where each member of the community has the right to an equal say and vote on decisions about how the community is run."
The house currently draws 80 per cent of its energy from an onsite hydro-mill, and plans are also afoot to install solar panels to make up the other 20 per cent.
Charlotte added that a "fundamental part of the mission is sustainability and having as little impact upon the environment as possible".
Work converting the property into a retreat is expected to take 12 months, with the completion date set for around June 2022.
