NHSN’s Student Naturalists, Amelia and Lekshmi, share the calming practice of nature journaling, along with examples from their own journals inspired by their adventures across the North East.
What are Natural Journals?
Nature journaling involves observing, discovering, and appreciating the small wonders in our surroundings. A journal brings each outdoor moment to life and helps us reconnect with nature in fresh and meaningful ways. It is a personal activity that should reflect your preferred method of expressing your thoughts and experiences, as well as fit your schedule. There are no strict rules or boundaries, and don’t feel pressured to make it a daily habit! You can treat it as a personal record of outdoor observations—things like plant species, weather, animal tracks, and unique landscapes. It’s not just about recording facts but capturing a connection with the natural world. Nature journals come in many forms, from detailed scientific sketches and notes to free-flowing thoughts, poetry, and photos. Here’s a quick look at different formats to spark some ideas:
- Scientific Journals: These often focus on accurate sketches and field notes, detailing species, behaviours, or ecosystems. Observations may be recorded with dates, times, and scientific names.
- Creative Journals: If you prefer a more creative approach, these journals blend art, poetry, or storytelling. Think colourful watercolour sketches, pressed leaves, or snippets of poetry inspired by your surroundings.
- Mixed Media Journals: This style combines various materials—drawings, pressed flowers, magazine clippings, and even photos—to create a collage of your experiences in nature.
Sources of Inspiration
Sometimes, all we need is a little spark of inspiration to start journaling. Here are a few sources to explore:
- Secrets of a Devon Wood by Jo Brown: This example comes from the lush landscapes of Devon in the UK. It showcases a mix of field notes, photographs, and beautiful sketches. Whether you live in a similar setting or not, this journal provides a great way to think about structuring seasonal changes or tracking local wildlife.
- Social Media & Online Communities: Look up hashtags like #NatureJournaling on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest. You’ll find countless artists, scientists, and hobbyists sharing snapshots of their journals, which can fuel new ideas.
- Nature Books and Documentaries: Reading a field guide on local flora and fauna or watching a documentary about nearby habitats can give you new topics to explore in your journal. Consider books like ‘The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling’ by John Muir Laws for expert tips and artistic techniques.
Here at NHSN the student naturalists, Amelia and Lekshmi, as well as the two assistant naturalists, Emily and Hollie, have been nature journaling their time with NHSN so far. All four of them have shared their experiences with the process so far…
Amelia Jenkins
Since art isn’t my strongest point, I didn’t want that to discourage me. My goal for my journal is to keep it light and have fun with my sketches. I aim to consistently create a page about a species that has captured my attention each week. So far, I’m proud that I have kept up with the journal and I’m happy with the species I’ve discussed. I plan to include details such as the location, date, and context for each species I observe.
Lekshmi Vijay
I’ve always loved photography and art. Photography made me love wildlife (particularly insects) as I captured them and took a closer look at observing their lives. Similarly, I thought I could use my other hobby to produce this journal while using a similar format to ‘Secrets of a Devon Wood’ by Jo Brown. It is a big work in progress but I feel like it will help me form a closer connection to the individual species I’ll be drawing in my journal just like my photographs did. I want to use these pages to record the species that live with us and look back on them later, hoping they all still exist later. Working on this has allowed me to spend time on my hobbies while also learning about what I love!
Hollie Muir
My nature journal is a scrapbook-inspired journal with pages featuring notes, drawings, stickers, washi tape and nature-related pieces I have collected over the years. I am a regular scrapbooker and have always enjoyed art, especially printmaking and sketching. My overall goal is to create a colourful presentation of all the species I have seen and learned about while working at NHSN. I have loved the journaling experience so far and really enjoy spending time creating a collage of pages.
Emily Anderson
I have been creating a scrapbook of my time with NHSN to capture activities and experiences, creating a record to look back on. When I was younger, I had attempted ‘traditional’ written journaling but I never really stuck with it. I suspect this was probably due to my dislike of the writing aspect of it. So when I learnt that journals could be whatever I wanted, I was taken with the idea of a more creative scrapbook style. While I expected this to enhance my connection to nature, I wasn’t expecting the increase in my identification skills I am experiencing! By writing/drawing/photographing species I encounter, I’m developing my ID skills in a way traditional teaching methods never achieved for me. I wouldn’t say my scrapbook is consistent habit yet. But with the joy and ID skill benefits, I am only more encouraged to keep working on it until I find myself in a regular habit of it.
Get Involved!
It’s safe to say that NHSN’s student and assistant naturalists are thriving in their nature journaling journey. It really only takes a love for our nature and a little bit of time. You too could join in. Have a go at your own nature journal- whatever this may mean for you! Here at NHSN we always welcome nature journals into our archive if you wanted to donate (whether the be the original journal or a scanned copy), but most importantly we hope that you find your own way to connect to nature that works for you!