Keeping a Nature Journal
As you know, Lumi keeps a Forest Diary. But did you know I keep one too? I love drawing and writing in my nature journal! It’s a wonderful way to notice what happens in the forest around me, to stay curious and creative, and appreciate the wonders of nature.
You don't need to be an artist or know much about nature to get started. You also don’t need much time. I don’t draw in mine every day, not even every week. I don’t stick to a schedule. Usually I get it out if I notice something interesting in nature, whether that’s a flower, a bird, or the changing seasons.
I love drawing outside, but I often don’t have the time or my Forest Diary on me. Then I try to take a photo to draw from once I’m back at my desk.
The leveret that lives in my grandpa’s garden from four angles.
How to start a Nature Journal?
Get a notebook, preferably with blank pages (lines are fine too, though). It doesn’t need to be pretty. Actually, I’d much prefer you to recycle an old one, because recycling is good for the environment. You can also decorate it with stickers or nature drawings later.
Go into your garden, the park or a forest, or look around you on your way to the supermarket. Does anything catch your eye? A tree, a leaf or an insect, maybe?
Do you have your nature journal on you right now? Get out your pencil and start sketching what you see. Don’t worry if the plant or animal moves. You can choose the angle you draw it from. It’s great exercise! If you have a phone, you can take a photo of your object.
Time to write! Write about what you experience in nature – what does it feel, smell, or sound like? You can also see if you can find the plant or animal in a nature book or on the internet. Write down facts about it next to your drawing.
Always remember to be kind to the environment. Don’t pick flowers or hold down insects just so you can draw them. Unless the flowers grow in your garden and you have permission to do so, of course! Pine cones and fallen leaves are ok to collect, too. You can press a leave between a heavy book and stick into your journal!
A hare and a woodpecker. I saw both in my grandpa’s garden.
Here are some things I’ve drawn in my nature journal recently:
a young hare (called a leveret) I saw in my grandpa’s garden
a toad I saw on an evening walk and took a photo of
flowers I noticed on a run
the rocky ground of the forest
a baby squirrel
For materials, I love using:
a pencil
a rubber
a waterproof pen
watercolours
a brush with a water cartridge
A baby squirrel among dandelions and forget-me-nots in early summer.
Will you start a Forest Diary, like Lumi in “Lumi and the Wolf”? If so, I’d love to see some pictures of your drawings. Feel free to email them to me at lottie.saahko@gmail.com 💚