I've always found immense pleasure in exploring the natural collections at the QLD Museum—butterflies, seashells, Australian wildlife, and birdlife—all designed to ignite curiosity and deepen our understanding of the natural world. This environment provided the perfect backdrop for the inaugural ANJA (Australian Nature Journaling Association) Nature Journaling Conference in late May. I was not only captivated by the surroundings but also by the speakers, diverse workshops, and the new friendships forged around love for nature.
Though I never saw myself as a nature journaler, I sought tools to help students and participants at the Wild Mountains environmental education center connect more profoundly with nature. What I found was a tool that had elements of well being , science and art in one neat little A5 visual diary! One that I have picked up and started using, much to my surprise.
Delving into nature journaling is like giving your brain a mini-vacation—it encourages relaxation, fosters attention to detail, and reveals the beauty all around. It's also like an intensive botany crash course, where I found a place to explore the differences between ferns and figs or butterfly's and beetles. With practice, I am sharpen my skills in observation, sketching, and recording my findings.
My nature journal has become a snapshot of moments—a breath-taking sunset, a strange looking bird, or a peculiar fungus—a repository for all those remarkable encounters with nature that might otherwise slip from memory. It seems that my journal has turned into a type of personal playground. So far, mine is a blend of personal reflections, scientific sketches, and a touch of imagination—mixing facts with fiction. A big Thank you to the many hands that went into the inspirational ANJA nature journaling conference. I look forward to many more!
By Lizz Hills,
Lead walker on the Trek2Reconnect, 6000kms across Australia (2023).
