CHARLOTTE Church is urging people to come and join her amidst the “magical wonder” of her new Mid Wales home as she presses ahead with plans to open a new healing retreat centre.

Singer Charlotte, 35, bought the stunning Rhydoldog House, in the Elan Valley, just outside Rhayader, earlier this year. She plans to transform the sumptuous seven-bedroom house and surrounding grounds into a democratic community over the next year where people can apply to “reconnect with themselves and the natural world” following a turbulent year brough on by coronavirus.

Rhydoldog House, the former home of fashion designer Laura Ashley, was bought by Charlotte for £1.5 million in March and she revealed her plans for its transformation last month.

Since then she has been posting photos and videos of the spectacular woodlands and views offered from the picturesque estate – including a beautiful patch in woodlands, entitled Beach Avenue, on her latest Instagram post this week.

And the Voice of an Angel star is still inviting applications from people to join the exciting project.

In a video posted to Instagram at the beginning of the month, Charlotte welcomed those watching with a cheerful “Hello darlings”.

“I’m here at Rhydoldog House and I’m looking for all sorts of different people to come and volunteer here. There’s 47 acres of magical wonder in Mid Wales,” she said.

“I’m going to set up a small democratic community here for the next year, focused on different wellbeing practices like meditation and reconnection with nature.

“Please have a look at the link in my bio and send us an application if you’re interested in living in a community, doing things a bit differently and reconnecting with yourself, with community and nature.

“We’re so thankful for the applications we’ve had so far, you’re all wonderful. We’re still accepting new ones over the next couple of weeks and would love to hear from you.”

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The estate was bought by the late fashion designer – who died in 1985 – and her husband Sir Bernard in 1973, as the couple wanted to raise their family and be near to their fledgling business in Carno.

Ms Ashley, the late former owner, opened her first shop in Machynlleth in 1960. After purchasing Rhydoldog House, it would regularly accommodate high-level company board meetings as well as some of Wales' most lavish parties.

At the height of the company’s success, the house was used as the backdrop for the fashion brand's iconic photo shoots of clothing ranges, while the surrounding grounds were said to have inspired the designer's famed floral prints.

Charlotte, who had a daughter with musician husband Johnny Powell last August, plans to create a community welcoming people from all walks of life and provide an array of activities for them to enjoy; from Mixed Martial Arts, spiritual healing practices like yoga, to creating a space for writers, musicians and artists, as well as a host of other activities like cycling, archery, foraging, hiking, strength and conditioning training and star-gazing; while she also plans to introduce a hot-tub, plunge pool and outdoor cinema.

For more information, visit the website at https://rhydoldog.wixsite.com/my-site, while you can email your application to rhydoldog@gmail.com.