Sunset over Lake Lyell (Photo: Mikayla Chadwick)
Story by Tracie McMahon with volunteer writers Maddy McLean and Mikayla Chadwick
“At first, I thought this wouldn’t have been my thing but that one day changed that. I encourage everyone to seriously give this a go and see what the outcome is.” Mikayla Chadwick
Key Points:
- The pace of everyday life can lead to a feeling of disconnection with people and place.
- Nature journaling involves observing nature and recording personal observations, questions and connections using words and pictures, either hand drawn or photographed.
- The activity is accessible to all. You do not need to be an artist. All you need is something to write and draw with and a natural setting
In late 2023, I had the privilege of sharing nature journaling with the women and girls from Barrinang: a Lithgow and district Wiradjuri corporation, working to promote and support wellbeing. The possibility of writing a story was discussed, as nature journaling is about creating awareness of the natural places we see every day.
As the group sat and yarned, it became clear that this was not a story of an event, but an experience, particularly for the younger women. I’ve been journaling for almost five years, and I’ve got a lot of years between me and a twenty-something, so I asked if they would like to contribute, sharing their experiences directly, rather than through my slightly hard-of-hearing old-person filter. Two young cousins agreed to meet with me and share their thoughts.
When we met a few weeks later, I was surprised to find not only were they interested, they were keen. This new ‘thing’ had not been replaced with the next big thing, in their busy lives. They wanted to encourage others to give it a go.
As we chatted, we came up with a few questions and they decided they would each write about their experience, imagining yarning with a mate. The questions are mine, but the responses are the unedited work of two very talented volunteer writers.
Q: What do you want to tell people about nature journaling?
Mikayla: Gurll, you wouldn’t believe it. I tried nature journaling the other day and it’s changing the way I see everything. The land and nature are not just a background anymore. I see them. I notice them. I’m connecting to them. I notice the little things and I wonder about them.
Like trees: have you ever thought about how long they’ve been around? How many things they’ve seen? Imagine the stories they could tell. I see the beauty around me, I don’t just think of everything as a background anymore.
Yeah, I did see the pretty sunsets and the amazing views, but I never noticed the things I do now. Gurll, I’m telling you the nature journaling stuff is a real flip on a point of view.
Maddy: The biggest take away for me is the feeling of connection to not only the women around me but also culture, nature and myself. The most important aspect is that we are doing something we all never thought we could do or would ever try.
Participants journaling on the yarning mat outside Hermitage Hall (Photo: Tracie McMahon)
Q: Can you explain what you did and what was involved?
Maddy: We walked out of the hall in the direction of the park, and I noticed it wasn’t quiet as usual. I began to see the bigger picture, a vast collection of books, paintings, pictures, paint brushes, watercolour paint, watercolour journals and everything we would need to bring out our inner artist. We sat down, introduced ourselves then went on walkabout to get our heads in the zone and to gain inspiration for our artworks.
We came together to share our experiences, what we saw, what we felt, what we saw that was interesting and what we learnt on our walk, then we just jumped straight into our journaling and bringing out the inner artists that many of us never knew were inside us.
Mikayla : We started with a lovely walk through the park to see what we wanted to draw. Before we even started, I knew I wanted to draw and write about a tree. Some of us sat on the ground in a circle all laughing, talking and learning. We shared our thoughts about everything around us and memories we had from being outside, from our childhood. It opened my eyes, as it did for our whole group.
Participants taking a walk on the Farmers Creek shared pathway. First stop waterways. (Photo: Mikayla Chadwick)
Q: Did you finish the pieces you started on the day and have you kept going with it?
Left: Maddy (front) intently working on her journal piece. Right: Mikayla’s finished piece (Photos: Tracie McMahon)
Mikayla: A couple of days after I tried it, I was overthinking, so I decided I should have a wander and do some nature journaling. One minute I was nearly bawling with how overwhelmed I was and the next I found myself drawing on a bench and three hours flew by. Being out in nature can expand the mind and release anger. There are so many positives to it. It helped me escape the highway in my head.
Maddy: Many of us found that we were actually really good at water colour painting, such as me. To go into something with no idea and to finish with my own artwork and a newfound hobby, was really uplifting and a surprise. The best part of it all is there is no skill set required. All you need is a keen mindset and you.
Q: What made it different to other things you have tried?
Mikayla: Nature journaling is more than just pen, paper and looking at nature. You can get some good vitamin D and some exercise. You may even meet new people. Maybe even meet a community of people who do nature journaling.
We are all so busy 24/7 it’s so hard to find the time for the simple things. Such as a simple walk in the bush. You don’t even have to go bush, you can always stroll throughout the park or sit at a window and try to notice things you normally wouldn’t even think of. You can start small and work your way up if bushwalking isn’t your thing. The best thing about nature journaling is you do not have to run off anyone else’s time except yours. You can choose to do this whenever you’re free.
You can learn heaps from trying this. Learn about nature and the land that surrounds us every day. It can make you wonder about plants and flowers. Then you can learn what they do for the environment and their names. You could also learn about birds, lizards and all sorts of animals and insects. And the purpose of why they are here. You can learn about how the food chain works and why it works in different ways. Did you know that dolphins use pufferfish to get high? Did you know crocodiles can’t stick their tongues out? And that octopus punch fish to beat them to food but sometimes they just do it for fun? Slugs have four noses and only female mosquitoes bite?
Maddy: Nature journaling is part journaling and part nature. Many people use journaling to help them in many ways in their life but doing that in nature is also recreating the beauty of nature that surrounds you.
This helps connect us to the land and our ancestors by taking the time to give honour and to go slowly in our lives. Being in nature and being able to connect to other people in mob by yarning, bringing us back to our roots. It is one of the best ways to ground, express yourselves and release energy.
Finished journals from the day. (Photo: Tracie McMahon)
Meet the Journalers
Mikayla Chadwick
Mikayla is a proud Wiradjuri woman. She loves to create beautiful portraits that show their stories with culture, history and personality. She’s had three exhibitions and has won many awards for her images in local competitions.
Maddy McLean
Maddy McLean is a proud Wiradjuri woman who works on Wiradjuri land. Maddy enjoys and is passionate about spirituality, storytelling, creating art and anything to do with getting into nature or getting in touch with her ancestry. Her work involves helping the community and learning about diverse cultures.
Take Action:
- You can learn more about Nature Journaling at https://johnmuirlaws.com/. The site includes several free downloadable resources for journalers and teachers.
- The Australian Nature Journal Association has a Facebook page, where members share their journal pieces.
- Take a slow walk in your local area, with a pencil, paints, paper and sit down to record what you see, describe it, wonder what else you would like to know and then record what it reminds you of: it may be a song, a memory, a childhood game. Write it down or record it visually.
Share this article:
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
News From Around The Region
Some of the most popular activities we`ve run over the last year have been our plant-based cooking demonstrations. If you`d like to learn more about how to prepare meals that are cheaper, healthier and better for the planet, Teja Brooks Pribac from PlantInspired will be demonstrating how to use pantry essentials to create delicious and healthy plant-based meals tomorrow: Friday 6 December at Junction 142 in Katoomba. Ph. 0434 691 496
#plantbased #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthdiet #cookingclass #katoomba #bluemountains
If you`ve heard about how inspiring and fun our Skillshare Saturdays are with our free Upcycling Fashion workshop from 9am to 3pm, our Wildlife Exhibition from 9am to 1pm, and our Bushcare to regenerate the Planetary Health Precinct at 1.30pm, there`s still one more opportunity in 2024 to come along and join in, this Saturday 7 December. Well be having some delicious Christmas nibbles to celebrate the end of a very productive year and all are welcome. The Planetary Health Centre is at 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba. Bookings for Upcycling essential (link in profile). To find out more about joining Bushcare ring 0407 437553 #upcyclingfashion #bushcare #planetaryhealth #learntosew #patternmaking #katoomba #bluemountains #natureconnection #wildlifeexhibition #birdphotos #wires
The inspiring Lyrebird Festival kicks off in the Megalong Valley this evening and runs until Sunday 17th November. Enjoy a weekend of music, art, food, wine, talks and nature walks as The Bowerbird Collective brings together art, science, conservation and world class music performances. All events can be booked separately or together with a Festival pass. Pricing includes a `Pay what you can` option.
The Lyrebird can be heard in the Megalong Valley imitating the calls of hundreds of other species, as well as producing their own thrilling sounds. The festival also includes a very special film screening of The Message of the Lyrebird on Sunday afternoon.
Tickets available here: https://bit.ly/3AON8In
(or at link in profile)
#megalongvalley #lyrebirds #lyrebirdfestival #bowerbirdcollective #bluemountains #planetaryhealth
In April 2021 Blue Mountains City Council became the first local government in Australia to adopt a motion to integrate Rights of Nature principles into its operations and practices. Today the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative, the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute and lawyer Kingsley Liu, had the great pleasure of workshopping further ways to implement Rights of Nature with this inspiring group of Law students from the University of New South Wales.
#rightsofnature #UNSW #lawstudents #planetaryhealth #bluemountains
At our World Animal Day event we launched the Community Supporting Community Program with a plant based cheese degustation. Teja Brooks Pribac from PlantInspired is now offering interactive classes in which you can have fun learning new techniques for using vegetables to create delicious meals that are good for your health and the health of the planet. Small groups: 6-8 people. $65.50pp. Bookings essential.
Classes currently on offer:
Plant-based cheese making & demo
Saturday 9 Nov, 1-3pm. Lawson NSW: https://www.facebook.com/events/1274663973560691
[DATE CHANGE!] The Tastemaster: how to turn your average vegetable into a mouthwatering masterpiece
Sunday 17 November, 11am-2pm. Katoomba: https://www.facebook.com/events/517611447925601
End of year special: plant-based cooking essentials 2-class bundle
Saturday 30 November, Sunday 1 December, 11am-2pm. Katoomba NSW: https://www.facebook.com/events/1116156823213312
Cooking with seitan
Saturday 7 December, 11am-2pm. Katoomba NSW. https://www.facebook.com/events/1553960262666738
PlantInspired is also offering interactive plant-based cooking classes and demos for individual clients, private groups and businesses. Choose from a range of preset classes or get in touch to tailor your own.
All profits utilised to help vulnerable members of the community through the Community Supporting Community program. Check the website for more info: www.plantinspired.com.au (link in profile)
#plantinspired #plantbasedcooking #vegan #community #planetaryhealth
Skillshare Saturdays literally offer a `breath of fresh air` at the Planetary Health Centre on the first Saturday of the month! At our free Upcycling Fashion workshop this month you can learn more about all types of zips and how to do basic pockets and pocket flaps. You can bring your own sewing machine or use one of ours. And at Bushcare in the afternoon, you can immerse yourself in the bush at the Planetary Health Precinct as you help restore habitat and protect biodiversity (while meeting some great people and enjoying time in nature). Bookings essential for Upcycling Fashion at Eventbrite here: https://bit.ly/4dZWUoM (link in profile)
If you`d like to join our Bushcare Group contact Karen Hising at khising@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or call the Bushcare Office on 4780 5623
#upcyclingfashion #skillshare #planetaryhealth #bushcare #community #togetherwecan #zerowaste #regeneration #circulareconomy
As 190 countries gather for the @cop16colombia UN Biodiversity Summit, to focus on how we can protect the world’s flora and fauna, we’d like to thank all those local individuals and organisations dedicated to the same goal who came together for World Animal Day at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre on Saturday 5 October. They offered ways for everyone to learn more and take action. From the Blue Mountains Bird Observers, who led over 40 people on a guided Breakfast with the Birds walk, to many others who offered information stalls, talks, workshops, a Wild Life exhibition, live music, plant-based food and hands-on Bushcare. We also launched the Community Plant Based Cooking Project with the first class to be held on Saturday 9 November at @roseyravelstonbooks in Lawson. Places are limited. Learn more here: https://plantinspired.com.au/
#worldanimalday #biodiversity #plantbased #planetaryhealth #bluemountains #katoomba
Did you know that old lino, window putty, and adhesive can contain asbestos? Yesterday the Asbestos & Hazardous Materials Management Conference kicked off with a pre-conference workshop at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre. It included hands-on `spot the asbestos` and asbestos sampling sessions. This year`s theme is `Working together for a safe and healthy future`. #asbestos #hazardousmaterials #conference #planetaryhealth #bluemountains #katoomba
Delicious plant based and gluten free pastries courtesy of Clean Cravings at World Animal Day today at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre. Such a lovely day! #planetaryhealth #worldanimalday
Paul Nagle and other members of the Blue Mountains Bird Observers leading 40 people on a Guided Breakfast with the Birds as part of World Animal Day at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Precinct. It`s a stunning day. Lots more to come at 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba.
A huge thank you to Josh Logan from Logan Signs, Lithgow, for installing our Circular Water Signage in time for our World Animal Day Celebration today at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre (33-39 Acacia St Katoomba). We have a full program of events with lots of information on how to prepare for the summer ahead and how to create urban areas that help us share our home respectfully with all species. It will be a fun family day too with storytime, craft and live music for kids! (Link in profile) #worldanimalday #planetaryhealth #familyday #katoomba #bluemountains
And our Wild Life exhibition is now up for World Animal Day tomorrow at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre. Photographs by Warren Hinder, Merryl Watkins, Holly Kent and Tracy Burgess. Check out all the other events from stalls, talks, possum box demo, kid`s craft and animal storytime, plant based food and live music to Bushcare. @33-39 Acacia St Katoomba Link in profile. #planetaryhealth #worldanimalday #katoomba
