TWO sisters who set up a wellness facility in their mother's memory have now taken the next steps to fulfil her dream.
Sophy Howard and Emily Lang created Watersedge to fulfil their mother's lifelong dream of turning their family lake into a safe space for people to focus on their health.
The family had owned the 11-acre plot of land in Bishampton for years, and the sisters' mother, Sue Howard, had aimed to change the space into a place for anyone who needed it before she died of cancer two years ago.
The two have since transformed the land into a wellness space for people to swim, paddle, practice yoga, sound baths and breathing work.
Miss Howard said she and her sister have now started the next part of their mother's dream after a planning application was granted to build a permanent building near the lake.
The building will contribute to the existing facilities already on site and be used as a yoga studio, a warm room for those who may have swum in the lake and a sauna.
Miss Howard said: "It is bittersweet or a double-edged sword as this is what she would have loved, especially seeing it so busy, but she is not here to see it.
"We have been very grateful and everyone who comes says it has a nice vibe and aura, and I think that's because of mum."
Currently, there is a tent on site which people use for yoga, but Miss Howard said the building will make people feel more snug, and it will have underfloor heating.
The building will be wooden and will allow the two Miss Howard and Mrs Lang to still run the facility if the area floods.
"We have tried to make the space not like a sanctuary but a switch-off place with no judgement and with no cliqueness," Miss Howard added.
"It is not snooty and is about connecting nature and taking you back to basics.
"For example you cannot take your phone with you if you are going for a swim"
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