Denmans Garden collaborates in a variety of ways with local artists, designers, and makers by hosting events and workshops and showcasing work in the Denmans Garden Gift Shop and Garden.
As part of an occasional series, we interview these makers and creatives on our blog page to find out more about their work and inspiration.
Founder of the Career Intelligence Academy, Anita Rolls came to Denmans Garden to run her first Spark Day retreat a couple of months ago. She creates warm, structured spaces for reflection and renewal. While her broader work supports organisations, Spark Day is a personal offering — created for individuals who want to reconnect with themselves and explore what’s ready to emerge in their life, work, or sense of calling. Spark Day includes garden entry and lunch at Midpines Café.
The idea for Spark Day arrived — as many sparks do — over a glass of sparkling wine. I was at Rathfinney Vineyard for our wedding anniversary, gazing out over the vines, and thinking about how that potential in the land had always been there. But it only became something we could enjoy because someone had a vision — and acted on it.
That got me wondering: what if more of us had the time and space to notice our own creative seeds? Not just for big, bold ventures like starting a vineyard — but for small, quietly powerful aspirations that often get lost in the noise of life. Spark Day was born from that idea: a space to listen to your own ideas, reconnect with your energy, and begin gently putting those ideas into motion — with the help of nature, structure, and other kindred spirits.
I moved to Sussex five years ago during lockdown, after two decades in London. My career began in law in the ’90s and evolved across finance, marketing, learning and development, and executive coaching — always led by a desire to find work that felt purposeful, energising, and made a meaningful contribution.
I never set out to become an entrepreneur, but I founded the Career Intelligence Academy 10 years ago to help others navigate that same journey — especially inside organisations. I wanted to help people develop their careers in ways that were both meaningful to them and valuable to the business, without needing to leave everything behind as I had done more than once.
There’s no “typical” day now, which I love. My work is a blend of designing programmes, delivering them, improving them — and making sure they reach the right people. Much of this happens online, which is both a blessing (more accessible) and a challenge (less human connection). That’s part of what drew me to Spark Day — the pull back to in-person connection, nature, and live energy in the room.
Lockdown shifted something for me. I began walking daily, and found myself increasingly inspired by the natural world — whether it was the shoreline at Climping, the South Downs, or the city walls of Chichester. I started to notice how being in nature restored and re-energised me — and I wanted to bring that into my work in a more intentional way.
Spark Day blends three elements to help people generate “sparky” aspirations and then shape them into small, energising steps they actually want to take:
- A simple, structured framework to guide the day
- Connection with others through gentle, thoughtful conversations in pairs or small groups (never more than 12 participants)
- The garden itself as an active participant — woven into reflective and conversational activities that help unlock clarity, energy, and insightIt’s a day for people who want more creativity or direction in their life or work — but need a practical, uplifting, and time-efficient way to get started.
It’s essential — but balanced. Spark Day is designed around three equal elements: time alone to reflect, time in nature to replenish, and time with others to connect. The group experience is never forced, but it often unlocks unexpected insights. Hearing others’ stories often helps us notice something in ourselves. That said, it’s always a gentle space — no pressure to overshare, always a sense of psychological safety.
I hope people take away a little more of their own inner voice — their creativity, intuition, and sense of what truly matters. I think we’re at risk of losing touch with that in our hyper-connected world. As Einstein said, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
Spark Day is about remembering the gift.
I’m lucky enough to live just across the road from Denmans Garden! I first discovered Denmans as a neighbour and later took a garden design course here. It’s such a hidden gem — you’d never know what lies behind the entrance. It really is like a TARDIS: unexpectedly vast, full of character, and brimming with unexpected beauty.
To me, it mirrors the very idea of Spark Day. That inner spark we all have — often hidden or forgotten — can surprise us with its richness once we take the time to explore it.
And I have to say, I have a soft spot for the blue benches. They’re like quiet invitations: “Sit here.
The setting is everything. Denmans isn’t just the venue — it’s part of the team. The garden is one of Spark Day’s core ingredients. The activities are designed to interact with the space — which gives people time and permission to tune in, breathe out, and reflect more deeply. It’s the ideal backdrop for personal insight.
Beauty, art, music, and nature — in all their forms help me to switch off. Whether it’s getting lost in a book, visiting somewhere inspiring, or enjoying a delicious meal with people I love — anything that immerses the senses and slows down the pace.
I’m excited to grow both the organisational and individual sides of my work in a way that’s sustainable — for me and for the people I serve. Spark Day reminded me how powerful in-person connection is. So I want to create more spaces for that — where people can come together, not to agree, but to explore, reflect, and connect with their own truth… and maybe even surprise themselves.
Events at Denmans Garden:
Spark Day – One-Day Retreat
Friday 29th August 2025 – 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
Monday 22nd September 2025 – 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
Friday 7th November 2025 – 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
For event information and booking go to https://www.denmans.org/events/spark-day-one-day-retreat/
If you are interested in learning more….
Curious how your spark is doing?
Take the free Spark-O-Meter — a quick 3-minute check-in to see where your spark is burning bright… and where it might be flickering. You’ll get a simple report showing how you’re feeling across 8 key areas of life — and it might just be the nudge you need to carve out space for yourself again.https://spark-o-meter.scoreapp.com/
Links to a couple of podcasts about Anita’s work and what has inspired it:
Sound of Breaking Glass: Anita Rolls on diversifying your career and helping people find their spark on Apple Podcasts
In this podcast episode, I talk about my search for meaning at the beginning of my career, the golden cage of a comfortable city job and what to do when you find yourself absolutely stuck, particularly as a woman in your mid-thirties.
Episode 14 of Realisting Potential – Career Intelligence®
Listen to my interview with Michael and Fiona at Realising Potential on how to build trust and drive growth through effective career development discussions.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0C0OoNbEUEAUxvB6Lxtn8a
Link to inquire:
Link to book:
Website: https://careerintelligence.lpages.co/spark-day/
