The journey begins
For Carlie Buckley, Senior Events Manager at Osea Island, the path to what she describes as her dream job was anything but conventional.
Having spent her career working behind the scenes in creative industries, from film production to interior design and large-scale events, she has always found herself at the intersection of organisation and imagination.
Yet even with such a varied background, nothing quite compares to managing events on a private tidal island where the journey to work can involve crossing a causeway one day and arriving by boat the next.
Long before she joined the team, Osea Island had already captured her imagination. The first introduction came through her husband, who attended a corporate retreat on the island in 2012 and returned home full of stories about the unique destination hidden off the Essex coast. And while she had never visited herself, something about the island stayed with her.
Over the years, she would find herself noticing whenever Osea appeared in the press, occasionally searching for updates and quietly following its story from afar. In fact, what began as curiosity gradually became fascination.
That fascination would eventually turn into reality when she was contacted about a maternity cover role for the island’s Event Manager position.
Dream job
“I ran to my husband and said, ‘I’ve got my dream job.’ He said, ‘You haven’t even sent them your CV yet.'”
Despite not having even applied at that point, Buckley instinctively knew the role was right for her. The six month maternity cover became a permanent position and she has remained at the island ever since.
And, it’s easy to understand why. Osea Island is unlike almost any other event destination in Britain…accessible by a tidal causeway that disappears beneath the sea at certain times of the day, the island occupies a unique space somewhere between reality and escapism.
Guests arrive knowing they are still in the UK, yet many leave describing the experience as though they have travelled much further.
That sense of separation from the outside world is something Buckley hears repeatedly. “Something that I hear time and time again is that Osea feels like another world.”
It is a sentiment she understands completely. Even after crossing onto the island hundreds of times, the excitement remains.
“The magic never fades. Whether I’m crossing the causeway or going across on the boat, I still have that little girl excitement.”
For someone who spends much of her time working from London, the contrast is particularly meaningful. A self-confessed country girl at heart, she sees her commute to Osea as one of the greatest privileges of her role. While many professionals travel into cities each day, she travels into nature.
Connection to nature
That connection to the natural world has become increasingly important, both professionally and personally. Osea Island is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, recognised for its remarkable birdlife and unique coastal environment. Many of the species that nest there have become increasingly rare elsewhere, creating a landscape that feels both protected and quietly extraordinary.
For Buckley, this environment has changed the way she experiences the seasons.
Living and working in London for many years had, in some ways, disconnected her from the rhythms of nature and working on the island has reversed that. She now notices the blossom arriving in spring, the bluebells fading as summer approaches and the fruit ripening in the old orchards later in the year.
The weather, too, has become impossible to ignore. On Osea, weather is not simply something to discuss. It influences every aspect of an event. Whether guests will be warm, dry, comfortable or sheltered becomes a constant consideration, creating a deeper awareness of the environment than many people experience in their daily lives.
Wellness on Osea
That awareness extends beyond practical planning. Through the wellness activities regularly hosted on the island, Buckley has found herself learning about practices she may never have encountered elsewhere. Forest bathing, foraging, sailing, kayaking and coastal exploration have all become part of the island’s culture, encouraging guests to slow down and reconnect with their surroundings.
She recalls learning about forest bathing and being struck by the concept of moving so slowly and consciously that you begin to notice details that would normally pass unseen. A bud forming on a tree, the movement of grass in the breeze or the changing quality of light become moments worth paying attention to.
For many guests, these experiences become transformative and while Osea hosts major corporate events, weddings and productions, Buckley believes the most meaningful moments are often the quietest.
She describes watching guests arrive from busy cities and high-pressure environments, initially distracted by emails, deadlines and responsibilities. Yet after only a short time on the island, something begins to shift.
Sometimes it is as simple as colleagues finally meeting face to face after years of working together remotely. One may be based in London while another works from New York, connected daily through screens but never having shared a conversation in person. At Osea, they walk together, have a cup of tea or sit overlooking the estuary, creating connections that cannot be replicated online.
The impact can be profound and other groups have left an equally lasting impression. Buckley recalls welcoming disadvantaged young men from London to the island for workshops and activities. Watching them arrive uncertain and cautious before gradually gaining confidence through new experiences remains one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.
Celebrity gatherings
For all the productions and celebrity events she has overseen, it is often these human moments that stay with her the longest.
Of course, Osea is no stranger to headline making occasions. Among the most memorable was the wedding celebration of singer Ollie Murs and Amelia Murs. While the wedding itself was spectacular, it was the following day’s festival that truly showcased the island’s capabilities.
Fairground rides, live music, celebrity guests and large scale production transformed the island into a private festival site. Craig David performed while guests enjoyed an experience unlike anything a traditional venue could offer.
It’s one of the reasons Osea continues to attract organisations seeking more than simply a venue.
For retreat organisers, wellness practitioners and corporate leaders, the island offers a rare combination of facilities and atmosphere. Large event spaces flooded with natural light sit alongside quiet beaches, orchards and coastal walks. Guests can spend their mornings in workshops or strategy sessions before ending the day in a four-poster bed overlooking the estuary.
Few places manage to balance productivity and restoration so effectively and according to Buckley, that balance is what makes Osea so special.
She adds: “People arrive expecting beautiful scenery and impressive facilities, what often surprises them is how quickly they begin to feel differently. The noise of everyday life seems to fade, the pace slows and the mind clears.”
When asked what personality Osea Island would have if it were a person, Buckley’s answer arrives instantly.
“Osea Island is that wonderful, chilled, yoga loving wellness lady who also loves a good party.”
