MEETING the Dalai Lama had a profound influence on a local landowner.

Documentary film maker Joshua Dugdale, spoke of when he met His Holiness, at an open day held last week, on his Wasing Estate in Aldermaston.

At the event aimed for local business people Joshua outlined his vision for the business which caters for meetings and events, while at the same time marking the completion of a £3 million restoration project at the venue.

“Wasing was a traditional country estate – asset rich, cash poor, with overdrafts left right and centre,” explained Joshua, who represents the seventh generation of his family’s involvement in the estate.

“It occurred to me that the most exciting opportunity would be to develop what had been a great learning in India when I was making a film on the Dalai Lama.

“He conducted a huge brainstorm at a conference which had extraordinary consequences. I realised then the power of events and that is when you throw people together in the right environment amazing things can happen.”

Keen to attract local business people to the estate who are looking for unique events and networking opportunities, Joshua said: “Our aim is to enable the networking to be even better, and that means the two elements need to be present. Not only do you need to have a wonderful environment that enables you to relax and be confident with people you may normally be formal with, but you also need to have some form of experiential element which allows you to loosen those bonds with people. In doing so you will enable conversation to flow, friendships to be made, relationships to develop, and opportunities to arise in whatever way possible.”

Experiential events, which are key to the future of the 250 year-old estate, that are now on offer, including immersive drumming, bush craft and corporate wellness activities.

“We’re not far from Basingstoke and we’ll do whatever people want to do here – we’ll try and make it happen,” said Joshua.

“And we’ve had anything from festivals of 20,000 people to small corporate retreats for 20.

“We also do meditative yoga retreats, weddings and even birthday parties.

“Here we’ve got rivers and lakes, forests and parkland – so there are all sorts of country activities that we can do from fishing to foraging to survival activities and what’s great is there is a really wonderful environment, so you can lose yourself in nature.”

Open day visitors had an opportunity to take part in a drumming workshop and were treated to a lunch of crayfish sourced from the rivers on the estate, cooked by Peter Mandeno of Wok & Wine.

Explaining the concept of his business, Peter said: “I help you to meet the people you didn’t know you were looking for.

“We are moving into experience economy where people are hungry for new experiences and interesting conversations.”

Those visiting Wasing were able to see three renovated 18 th century estate rooms bringing a total of 26 on the estate.

The Grade II listed buildings include The Dovecote, The Smithy and The Granary.