The Background
The Treehouse is an offshoot of The Bothy at Heckfield Place in Hampshire, a serene wellbeing space set within a biodynamic estate and country house hotel. The grounds were first shaped in the late 19th century by horticulturist William Wildsmith, whose name now lives on through the estate’s botanical skincare line. Today, Heckfield is the passion project of Hong Kong-born Harvard graduate and philanthropist Dr. Gerald Chan, who has brought together heritage, horticulture and modern science to create a place where nature’s rhythms are given centre stage.
The Location
Tucked away on the fourth floor of Liberty, The Treehouse feels like a secret garden above the bustle of Soho. Behind the iconic timbered façade of the department store, this quiet cocoon offers an unexpected escape — a place where city life seems to fall away the moment you step inside.
The Science
The Wildsmith products and treatments aim to follow the ecosystem of the natural world. This is put into practice by combining lab-grown bio-identical substances with botanical ingredients – such as plant extracts, oils and butters derived from flowers, herbs, nuts, seeds, roots and barks. The general intent is to work in harmony with the body’s circadian rhythm, its natural 24-hour clock, thus nurturing and transforming skin health.
The Treatment
‘It starts with a walk in the woods,’ tempts a message at reception. Stepping behind a gauze drape onto which a film of the estate’s trees is projected, you enter the treatment room as if slipping beneath the forest canopy. Throughout, a soundscape of birdsong deepens the sense of being in an enchanted woodland. The signature Radical Botany Facial lasts an hour and blends stretching, breathwork, acupressure and massage to ease tension and restore balance. A double cleanse with balm and gel prepares the skin before gentle exfoliation with a soft brush sweeps away dead cells. A rich clay mask follows, then the ritual closes with copper peptide serum and cream, leaving the skin strengthened, smoothed and renewed.
The Vibe
Wildsmith is all about slowing down, returning – in an increasingly restless world – to a simpler and kinder life, in tune with natural surroundings. The atmosphere feels as if you are sheltered beneath a leafy canopy, cocooned in calm and gently distanced from the city’s noise. No doubt, they are serious about their respect for the environment and their drive to formulate products with minimal disruption of the biosphere.
The Verdict
The facial was a deeply relaxing hour, during which I even drifted off. I might have welcomed a brief pause in the looping birdsong, but otherwise the treatment felt cocooning and restorative. My skin emerged very clean and remarkably smooth, enough that I kept up with the recommended serum and day cream afterwards. Treatment prices are fully redeemable on Wildsmith product purchases made in store on the day – a gesture in keeping with their mantra, “We want to give something back.” And they do mean it.
How Much
Guests can choose between a 30-minute (£70) or 60-minute (£140) Radical Botany Facial. The full booking fee is redeemable against Wildsmith products on the day, making it as much an invitation to take the forest canopy home as it is a treatment in itself.
Book Here
www.wildsmithskin.com or www.libertylondon.com
By Josephine Grever
