Nature Journaling for Revegetation Projects

What is Nature Journaling?
Nature journaling is the practice of observing and recording the natural world through writing, drawing, and other creative expressions. It encourages mindfulness and deepens one’s connection to nature by capturing details about plants, animals, landscapes, and seasonal changes. This process often combines scientific observation with personal reflections, fostering a greater appreciation for the environment and enhancing observational skills.

Why use Nature Journaling with your Revegetation Projects
The practice of observing and recording your revegetation project provides a basis for collecting data about your project and the impact of your revegetation. It allows members of your group to create a meaningful connection and contribution which allows their own personal observations and inspirations to be captured. A deeper understanding of the species and the challenges they face engages and inspires your group to restore, nurture and protect the revegetation area and the broader environment.

Technique 1: Maps over time
To get to know the revegetation area better, a map can be sketched freehand or from online mapping sources.

1. Write a title and date for your map.
2. Draw the boundaries of the area you wish to focus on
3. Make a legend in a corner and decide how you’d like to show:
   1. Contours and landforms
   2. Water sources
   3. Fences
   4. Roads and tracks
   5. Trees and shrubs
   6. Other important features
4. Work out where North is and mark it on your map using a compass or a device.
5. Mark in on the map the main features based on the legend.

At this point, you may wish to keep this map as a base and trace/photocopy it to create specific maps for what you are focusing on. You may wish to keep track of the following:

• Weed locations
• Wildflower plantings
• Significant species sightings
• Walk notes
• Favourite places

Use your map to record the changes and effectiveness of your plantings, weed and erosion controls over time.

Technique 2: Before and After
If you are comfortable with quick sketching in the field, a nature journal page might capture the area about to be tackled for weed removal. Although a photo could be used to do this, a nature journal page allows for species identification and notes about how the revegetation project will be tackled. Your page might have the following:

• Title and metadata (Place, time, weather, conditions)
• A description of the revegetation goal
• A list of materials and equipment required
• An overview sketch of the area
• Detail drawings of target species

At the end of the revegetation or weed removal, another nature journal page may be created to show the same overview with notes about the work done, lessons learned and notes for the next revegetation project.

Technique 3: Species Focus
There may be a particular species that you’d like all your group to learn about. It might be a specific weed species that you are targeting. You can either write a nature journal in the field or at home with field guides.
You can use the prompts:

• I Notice
  • describe what the species looks like
  • draw an overview of the plant, shrub or tree
  • draw a close-up of its identifying features
• I Wonder
  • Write down questions that are inspired by the plant
  • Why is it here?
  • What does it need to grow?
• It Reminds Me Of
  • Consider your personal connection to the species.
  • Have you seen it before somewhere else?
  • Does it evoke memories or feelings?
  
  

Nature Journaling is a personal record that can form the basis of learning more about nature and how integral our connection is to it. To learn more:

• John Muir Laws https://johnmuirlaws.com/
• Wild Wonder Conference https://johnmuirlaws.com/wildwonder/
• International Nature Journaling Week https://www.naturejournalingweek.com/