Nature Notebook: Dandelions

The power of writing stuff down

One of my favourite ways to connect with nature is drawing and writing about the things I notice. I find this is the best way for me to remember facts or identifying features - it’s like fun revision!

If the above comment hasn’t put you off completely… I’d like to invite you to start a nature journal. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, it can be a note on your phone or a collection of scribbled-on envelopes if you like. But tracking what you have seen and noting down any things you are curious about are both great ways to deepen your relationship with nature. Personally, I just like an excuse to fill a new notebook… and if it was good enough for Darwin, it’s good enough for me!

Last year I started a nature journal and, until I moved house and stopped completely in the summer, I kept track of the things I saw on my walks most days. I’d start each page with the date, the moon phase and often the weather. Sometimes I’d note down my mood or the things I was feeling. Occasionally I’d get a bit poetic about the moon or a stunner of a sunset. If I went on a trip, I’d keep a list of the birds I spotted. 

Often I’d go home and draw a picture of something I’d seen, then research facts about it online or in books. There was so much I’d be curious about when I was out walking Noushi - “Why do ducks stand on one leg so often?” “What’s that big ball of leaves up in that tree?” “Why do woodpeckers drum?” - my nature journal meant I’d go home and actually find out the answer. 

(If you’re interested, ducks apparently stand on one leg to help regulate their body temperature, the ball of leaves in the tree was mistletoe and woodpeckers drum to communicate with each other as well as to peck out insects to eat and excavate holes for nesting.)

Here are some example pages from my own nature journal…

As you can see, some days I went all out with my drawings, other days I did a quick sketch or drew nothing at all. My first pages were a complete mess, full of scribbling out and ink splodges, which actually helped me not to be precious over the whole journal - I now prioritise getting my notes down haphazardly, rather than creating something fit for a frame. 

I’ve really enjoyed looking back on my journal, reminiscing on living next to Beckenham Place Park and the things I discovered there. I’m using this newsletter as an excuse to get back into journaling. So will you join me?

Your first Nature Notebook task

Today I’d like to encourage you to start a nature journal. Whether it’s a note on your phone or a new hardback notebook, your journal has to be something you actually want to do, or you’ll never keep up with it and it’ll just be another thing on the list of things you feel you should be doin.. Don’t feel like you have to write (or draw) something every day, or that it has to be perfect.

If you need some inspiration to get you going, start by finding a dandelion. Draw it if you like, or pick one and press it between the pages of a heavy book (you can stick it into your journal at a later date). Then do some research on dandelions (I’ll share some links and prompts below to help you) and write them down. 

You’ll never look at these supposed “weeds” in the same way again.

Dandelion further reading & journal prompts

• Read these fun facts about dandelions and write down your favourites 

• Explore the many (entertaining!) names of dandelions and their etymology

• Write about the spot you found your dandelion - was it out on a walk or in your own garden?

• Ask yourself why we call dandelions “weeds” and not “wildflowers” - what’s the difference?

• Study this foraging guide from Wild Food UK and note down the medicinal uses of dandelions

• Write down the recipe for dandelion salve or dandelion honey and, if you can find enough dandelions, try making it yourself. Then note down anything you’d do differently next time. I made the salve myself last year and even made a badly edited reel of the process - enjoy!

Share your journal

If you decide to start a nature journal (or already keep one), maybe you’d be up for sharing a page or two with us? Reply to this email with some photos and let me know if you’d be happy for me to share them with the community. Otherwise, maybe you’d like to share in the comments what’s holding you back and I’ll see if I can help…

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P.S. If you’d like a notebook like mine, you can use this code to get £12 off your first £30 Paper order.