What is Nature Journaling? A brief overview of health benefits, preparing your own journal, and a nature book recommendation.

Cinque Terre nature journal entry by Ashley Stuart

What is nature journaling?

We may have a sense of what journaling is—the routine writing of thoughts and feelings for self-reflection or expression—though it can vary person-to-person. Nature journaling is similar, but focused on capturing individual experiences of small moments in nature and incorporating sketching, keepsakes, writing, and so on. We can keep these moments close and use them for creative inspiration later. 

Sitting on a tractor lane looking out over the landscape with my children, capturing with sketches and watercolors.

Benefits of Nature Journaling

This method of journaling gets you outside in the fresh air, soaking in the sun, and removing the mind and body from the digital world. Taking time away with nature can provide new perspectives on life or circumstances and chance to reflect your connection to the natural world. 

In my own journal, I have small paragraphs describing an inchworms acrobatic afternoon, an autumnal rainbow of pressed leaves, sketches of overlapping leaf patterns against the sky, descriptions of birds shape and color to look up later, and so on. When looking back I can almost transport myself to that moment in time and my senses flare with memories. I also bring my phone for photographs, as well as small empty mint tins and fill them with sand, nuts, leaves, dried berries, and other nature keepsakes. And of course sustenance! I tend to always have a coffee or tea in hand and a sweet snack.

I took a moment while walking artworks to the post office for shipping to cool off in the river.

Sketching a landscape on a bridge where the land was divided into thirds.

Painting a watercolor of a lakeside landscape with coffee and cakes.

Capturing the curves of a dome and delicate cross in Copenhagen.

Capturing the Basque mountains from our hotel window.

Levels and wisps of terrain on the way to Edinburgh.

Preparing Your Bag

When preparing for your time out in nature you can take as much or as little as you'd like, you can go as close or far from home as time allows, with any sort of notebook you have. Either store-bought or homemade from scraps, you'll just need space to capture experiences. If you don't have a notebook on hand, there are a number of notebooks available in my art shop. 

• Notebook
• Pencil and sharpener
• Small blanket
• ​A destination
• Camera
• Plastic baggies or small tins (for keepsakes)

Walking among snow drops at a National Trust site.

A while back I read Rewild Yourself by Simon Barnes and it made me rethink how I experience nature. The author provides sensible, easy ways to make nature more visible. For example, the bottomless sit. Finding a comfortable place to sit (and rest) and remaining still, one becomes camouflaged and nature encroaches unknowingly. Humor is intertwined throughout and I can confidently say the knowledge learned has stuck with me! I've provided a link to the purchase the book and as an Amazon associate I earn a small commission if purchased via the link.

If you decide to venture out, I'd love to hear about your experiences. Where did you go? Did you experience something magical? Have you gone with friends or did you go along? Leave a comment below or share images via email.