Wild and Wiser
The Wild & Wiser Partners
Wild & Wiser has been shaped by the care, creativity and belief of women who gave their time, talent and trust to help bring this vision to life.
Alongside our brilliant Collective, this page honours those early collaborators, the businesses, creatives and supporters who helped us lay the foundations. As Wild & Wiser grows, this space will evolve to include future partners and sponsors who align with our values of kindness, belonging and purpose. Get in touch if you'd like to join them.
For now, we begin with gratitude.
Bare Studio- Creative Partner
Wild & Wiser wouldn’t look or feel the way it does without Jules. From the earliest conversations, she understood the heart of what this gathering was meant to be- grounded, soulful, a little wild, and deeply human.
She made it possible for Wild & Wiser to come into the world with intention and integrity from day one. Her generosity, creativity and belief in the vision helped turn an idea into something tangible.
We’re incredibly grateful to have her as part of the Wild & Wiser story.
Fi Bardwell - Co Founder of Perfect Party Tents
Fi spent most of her life as a Hospitality professional, so there's not a lot she doesn't understand about people pleasing! When becoming Mum to two amazing, but NHS dependent, children - everything changed for her. Staying flexible for appointments became an absolute essential and so it was that she ended up creating her own work life. Heidi then walked in to her life and together they started Perfect Party Tents. Along the way she created a local Women in Business Network (now being looked after by other fabulous women) and with Heidi they have gone on from strength to strength fuelled by our belief that there is nothing we can't do. In an industry heavily populated by men, we are the changing face of that.
​What Wild & Wiser means to me?
"I think for me it is about believing in your own power and knowing that perfection isn't real. It's wonderful to aspire to big things - never stop that, but to understand that those big things doesn't make the person you are now, today is wonderful. Remember that to someone - you are already living the dream they are aspiring to have. Enjoy who you are today and leave things you can't change alone."
Blue Sky - Wild & Wiser Financial Planning Partner
Emma, Lesley, Jo and Angela will be joining us from Blue Sky Financial Planning. They help people create clarity and confidence around money, life and the future.
Based in Dorset, their team believes financial planning should feel human, empowering and deeply personal, not transactional or overwhelming. They work with clients navigating all kinds of life transitions, helping them make thoughtful decisions around wealth, retirement, career change, protection, family and long-term financial wellbeing.
The Blue Sky team attending Wild & Wiser brings together experienced female voices from across financial planning, client care, leadership and communications. Throughout the weekend, they’ll be having conversations around financial confidence, life change and building futures with intention.
​What Wild & Wiser means to us?
Emma Hardy says, “I believe women deserve financial conversations that feel human, empowering and free from judgement. Too often, money becomes something we avoid during periods of change, when actually it’s the time we most need clarity and support."
Heidi Pounder - Co Founder of Perfect Party Tents and Farmer
Heidi is passionate about her farm and every life she comes into contact with. With a drive that can't be rivalled, nobody knows where she gets her energy from. With a background in various industries she is now a 3rd Generation farmer (her brothers didn't want to go into it) and so her life is her cows. And the campsite! Together with her husband and family they have made Wooders a calm, rustic retreat from everyday life - and with Fiona at Perfect Party Tents - they make dreams of weddings and events come true in this tranquil spot on the edge of the forest.
​What Wild & Wiser means to me?
“ For me I think it's about having the strength to say No and to believe in yourself more and not letting other people's negativity get in your head. It's about being independent and learning every day. When you're younger you don't always appreciate all of life's lessons but as you get older - and wiser - you appreciate that you're going to learn from every experience - so embrace that!"
Pier Journal
We're incredibly proud to welcome Pier Journal as a Founding Partner of Wild & Wiser.
From the very beginning, the Pier team has believed in what we're trying to create. In fact, Laura, Pier's Director and Editor, was the very first person to buy a festival ticket. That says everything about the way she champions local, independent, female-founded businesses and backs ideas she believes in.
As Dorset's independent community journal, Pier exists to celebrate the people, places, creativity and stories that make our county such a special place, making them a natural values-led partner for Wild & Wiser.
We're also delighted that a number of the Pier volunteer team will be joining us across the weekend, generously giving their time and helping capture the conversations, connections and moments that make this festival so special.
It's a real privilege to have such a respected independent publication alongside us, and we're so grateful to have the Pier team as part of the Wild & Wiser story.
​What Wild & Wiser means to me?
“ Wild & Wiser feels like the kind of event our community needs more of. It's bringing together inspiring women, meaningful conversations and genuine connection in a way that feels both uplifting and accessible. As a publication that exists to celebrate Dorset's people and stories, we're proud to support a festival that's creating space for women to reconnect with themselves, one another and what's possible."
Women in HR Network
Women in HR Network is a not-for-profit community created to help women in HR feel connected, supported and inspired.
We believe that the best conversations happen when women are given the space to show up as themselves—sharing experiences, building confidence and learning from one another without judgement or expectation.
From intimate regional gatherings to online communities and thought-provoking events, our mission is simple: to create meaningful connections that remind women they don't have to navigate their careers alone.
​What Wild & Wiser means to me?
“ We're delighted to partner with Wild & Wiser, whose belief in creating space for women to pause, reconnect and honour their own path so beautifully complements our own community values."
​Sarah and NikkiDorset Wildlife Trust
Nicki and Sarah will be joining from Dorset Wildlife Trust. The Trust is all about connecting people to nature, empowering them to help make space for and love the natural world.
Sarah is part of the People & Culture Team, actively supporting everyone around her. She is also the Menopause Champion for Dorset
Wildlife Trust and believes that talking about Women's health and how nature can help should be encouraged.
Nicki is a ranger and resident on Brownsea Island, and a qualified ecotherapy practitioner. She has been living on Brownsea for 10 years and would love to start bringing some of the peace and tranquillity she finds from living there to other people to help enrich their experience.
​What Wild & Wiser means to us?
Sarah - "I believe women function better when closely connected to
nature, especially now, as I get older I find internal peace and freedom
from nature. Being at Wild & Wiser gives us a chance to connect with others, share ideas and encourage natural healing, all while empowering and being empowered by other women."
Nicki – "For me Wild & Wiser means allowing nature into our lives along with the understanding that it can inspire us to relax, revitalise and refresh ourselves simply through stopping, observing and connecting. Nature connection has helped me come into my own mindful space in practise and
I would love to start bringing this to others."
Ellis Jones Solicitors
Lauren, Katie, Deborah and Kate will be joining Wild & Wiser from Ellis Jones Solicitors, a law firm that puts people first and brings personality to the legal profession.
Offering legal services across Dorset, Hampshire and London to individual and commercial clients, Ellis Jones is an organisation that champions women in the workforce: women make up 74% of Ellis Jones’ staff with a female Managing Partner (Lauren Day) and 9 female Partners at the helm. The firm supports female empowerment within the local community.
Ellis Jones is a firm striving to level the playing field within their sector by promoting gender equality.
The Ellis Jones experts attending Wild & Wiser bring a wealth of experience across Family Law, Wills, Trusts & Probate, Contested Wills, Property Disputes and Employment Law. Throughout the festival, the team will be available to provide legal guidance & future planning to avoid dealing with difficulties that can arise in both private and professional aspects of life. During the weekend you can meet the Ellis Jones experts on their stand where they will be serving up Pimms, legal advice and gifts to take home.
​What Wild & Wiser means to us?
​“It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to support this event, bringing people together to form lasting connections and have meaningful conversations. Putting people first is a core value at Ellis Jones and this ethos is clearly emulated at the Wild & Wiser festival.”