Deeply disappointing
This is my personal experience and opinion.
The Forest Hermitage have a great web site, it all sounds wonderful and endearing but for first time visitors, this is not the case.
No one welcomed us or explained the proceedings or anything else. Everyone was as miserable as can be, save for one helper/volunteer. I am a friendly, welcoming personality type but my smiles were met with solemn faces as though I had blasphemed in The Temple. Just to be sure this is correctly understood, this was in the "waiting area".
Some participants were uncomfortable with sitting cross-legged for the duration (understandably if you are a new student to the discipline). When they stretched their legs in front of them, were told in no uncertain terms by Alan Adams/Ven. Ajahn Khemadhammo (monk in attendance), to cross their legs and were reminded or perhaps chided is a better, more descriptive word to use here; to remain completely still and silent.
I, and I am almost certain, everyone else in the room had expected a pleasant session of relaxation and perhaps a little enlightenment but to me, it seemed hubris reigned supreme with suffering (for newcomers) the order of the day. The right things were said even though the tones were all wrong (be good to everything, reject material things and ambition etc.) whilst Alan sat comfortably on a chair in front of an Apple laptop.
I noted several attendees limping away after their session of discomfort.
There was no chatting before or afterwards, no encouragement or information regarding the chants which were sung before and after or what was on offer. It would have been helpful if we were told what to expect, how to behave etc. (Oh, and don't address Ven. Ajahn Khemadhammo, mere mortals!)
We partake on a daily basis in the more modern adaptation of meditation, "Headspace". Co-founder, Andy Puddicombe spent around 10 years in Asia, training and living as a monk before returning to the UK. Andy has a soothing, friendly voice and never sounds like he is telling you off.
I am sad that I did not enjoy the experience and will try a different Temple elsewhere to see if my experience is better but will stick to Headspace for now!
Wishing you a better experience.