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April Nature Journaling Ideas
By Lotti Brown
Explore April nature journaling ideas from my own nature journal - recording the seasons with pen and paper in my hand...
April feels like a month of movement and change...
The landscape is shifting quickly now - as I walk out in the fields I notice new birds arriving and settling, trees beginning to leaf, and colour returning in small but noticeable ways.
And yet, the season is not quite settled...
There are still cold mornings, sudden rain, even the occasional frost or storm - all reminders that the season is still unfolding.
In my April nature journal pages, I’m sharing what I’ve been noticing this month - small moments from birds, trees, hedgerows, and the garden - and ideas that might also inspire your own journal pages.
You don’t need to find everything - just something that catches your attention, and begin there...
Canada geese (and friend)From my April Nature Journal
Birds in April
At first, the changes are subtle - the starlings leave the vast flocks that we've watched dancing in murmurations over the fields through the winter months...
Now, they trill, chatter and sing from our rooftops - we've had one on our chimney most days...
StarlingThe shift from huge flocks to individual birds on rooftops tells us that nesting season is beginning...
And for many of the other birds too - I watched a little goldfinch pick out strands of mossy fibres from my hanging basket (I hope they build a nest near us again) - likewise, a blackbird has spent time in the garden carefully selecting twigs, while out in the fields, a pair of jackdaws were gathering mud and dung for their nest...
Birds gathering nesting materialsStill, flocks of fieldfare and redwing remain - our wintering birds not yet gone.
And our faithful skylarks continue to sing in the skies - but their reach is widening as they explore further fields and break off into pairs - along with the tumbling lapwings who call out into the warmer air...
But we also begin to hear new birdsong as we walk through the fields - stopping when a different call catches our attention…
Our summer birds have started to return.
Greater/Common WhitethroatAlong with the chiffchaff who returned last month, the greater whitethroat, sedge warbler and willow warbler are newly returned for the summer season...
Sedge warbler
Willow warblerThe blackcap, too, is singing in the fields now - I heard him a few times this winter in the gardens of the village - perhaps a stray over-wintering individual - but now the season of the summer birds has arrived, he's singing again in the meadows.
And there are rumours in the village that a barn swallow has been seen - perhaps just passing through as no further swallows appear...
And then suddenly, towards the end of April, the swallows finally do appear - swirling, soaring, and chattering in the skies above - proof the season is shifting and summer is close.
Barn swallowGrowth & Change in the Fields & Hedgerows
April is the season for growth and change - and I found it early on, in the shape of an acorn disturbed from the mud of a footpath...
Its red colour caught my eye - vibrant and full of life - and I noticed a root emerging from one end.
New growth in this spring season of new beginnings...
Acorn with new root growingThe root emerges from the pointed end of the acorn, and once anchored, the shoot will follow. I decided to plant my found acorn in a pot in the garden to see if it will grow.
The storms bring down many smaller twigs - so I got a close up view of some of the leaves now sprouting in our treetops...
New poplar leaves emergingI find twigs from a hybrid black poplar (above) with its sticky copper leaves unfurling still - and from a beech tree (below) with its beautiful furry buds...
Beech tree budsAnd the ash tree from just across the road astounds me with its florets of new growth - like delicate strands of tiny broccoli bursting from the ash’s black buds...
Ash tree twig with new shootsIt reminds me of the folklore rhyme to predict the weather for the coming summer...
"Ash before the oak, there's sure to be a soak,
Oak before the ash, there'll only be a splash,"
Since the oak trees are nowhere near this stage, it looks like we might be in for a wet summer, if this holds true!
In the hedgerows, one plant seems oddly out of season - while the other trees are erupting into the fresh new growth of spring, the ivy's growth sees its beautiful black berries deepen colour and ripen...
Ripe ivy berriesThe black berries now hang heavy and pendulous from the ivy plant - important food for birds such as woodpigeons, blackbirds, thrushes, and blackcaps as there’s little else available at this time of year.
And in the hedge bottoms and verges, the pretty little red dead-nettle flowers, its dainty flowers sending a signal that these are the nettles that do not sting...
Red dead-nettleIn folklore, these are a symbol of the arrival of Spring and signify renewal. They were once carried for luck and to ward off negativity and malign forces. They're also a great source of early nectar for spring bumblebees who are bright and busy on our few sunny days.
As we move towards the final days of the month, we notice sweet crab apple blossoms in the hedgerows - the fragrant flowers reminding us of the scent of summer...
Crab apple blossomAnd on a sunny woodland walk, a quiet glade of English bluebells, the fragrance filling the air - and we sit quietly for a few minutes and gaze across the sea of blue and feel peace and hope for the season ahead.
English bluebell sketchThere is growth, colour and life starting in the fields and hedgerows, now - we can see it and feel it in the air - but this is a season still new and fresh itself and we're not yet at the abundance of late spring and summer...
In the Garden
In the garden too, the leaves emerge and colour returns...
First, the beautiful magnolia whose gorgeous goblet flowers open from large furry buds and seem to light up the early days of April with a sense of hope...
MagnoliaTiny blue flowers are scattered across the ground, now - the stars of 'Glory of the Snow' remind us that this month may still see wintery days but the sky-blue forget-me-nots speak of the sunny days and azure skies that we also enjoy...
Blue spring flowersIn my own back garden, the Pieris leaves glow red and it makes the whole garden feel like the warmth of spring has truly returned - and as the month continues, the vibrant colour softens to a gentle pink...
Red leaves of the PierisAn early dwarf rhododendron is also just starting into flower, too - little pretty purple petals adding further colour and it makes it feel as though summer isn't far away...
Pale purple dwarf rhododendronAnd the centrepiece for our little garden - the plum tree that we grew from a tiny sapling in a pot - also shoots out fresh green leaves as a celebration of spring...
Fresh leaves on the plum treeA celebration that we end up sharing with the two wood pigeons who live in our garden - they've been pecking at the fresh buds and leaves from the tree - bending over the twigs as they reach out to the ends of the long branches to try to get to the tastiest morsels...
Wood pigeon eating our plum tree budsI don't really mind as it's the 'hungry-gap' for the birds with not much to eat yet - few remnants of last year's crop of berries and no seeds and berries for this year yet.
The wood pigeons are funny things and I enjoy watching them in our garden all year round - and if the price for that is a few plum tree buds, that's something I'm more than happy with.
Nature Journaling in April
Nature journaling in April has shown me a world in the process of becoming - a spring that one day brings sunshine and blue skies, and the next feels as though winter is returning with frost, rain, wind, and hail sharp on the skin...
The buds are emerging in trees and hedges - and the leaves slowly, slowly begin to clothe the branches with green while the gardens start to fill with flowers.
The natural world is in movement too - with some of our winter visitors getting ready to leave, while our earliest summer visitors already arrive and fill the meadows with song...
The birds are getting ready for the breeding season - travelling, building, preparing, singing - and the sound of birdsong fills my heart with joy...
Siskins in the treetopsApril Nature Journaling Ideas & Prompts
April is a month of arrival and change - birds returning, trees beginning to leaf, and the landscape slowly filling with colour.
If you’re not sure what to focus on, here are a few gentle prompts to guide or inspire you - pick one or two to get you started…
Birds in Transition
- Notice how birds are behaving differently now. Are they still gathering in flocks, or beginning to spread out and claim territory? You might watch one species for a few minutes and record what you see.
Listening for New Voices
- Spend a few quiet moments listening. Can you hear any new birdsong this month? Try describing the sound in your own words, or noting how it differs from what you heard in winter.
Signs of Arrival
- Look for signs of returning birds. Have any migrants arrived where you are? Or are you still waiting, noticing the anticipation of their return?
Nest Building
- Watch for birds gathering materials. Twigs, grass, feathers - even mud. What are they collecting, and where are they going?
Something Beginning to Grow
- Find one small sign of growth. A bud opening, a shoot emerging, or even a germinating seed. You might sketch it or describe its colours and shapes.
Colour Returning
- Notice where colour is appearing now. Flowers, leaves, or even subtle tones in the hedgerow. What stands out against the still-muted landscape?
A Tree in Early Leaf
- Choose a tree nearby. Are the leaves just beginning to emerge? You might compare it with another tree that is slightly ahead or behind.
A Moment of Weather
- April weather can change quickly. Notice one moment - sunshine, rain, wind, or even hail. How does it affect the landscape around you?
The Garden in Spring
- Spend a few minutes in your garden (or a nearby green space). What feels new this week? Flowers, leaves, colours, movement?
A Small Tension
- Notice where growth meets challenge - new leaves being eaten, plants competing, birds searching for food. What small story of balance or struggle can you see?
A Moment in April
- Record one small moment from your day - bird, a sound, a plant, a fleeting encounter - something simple, but worth remembering.
How does this month feel to you?
Is it settled, or still changing?
You might write a few reflective lines alongside your observations.
You don’t need to capture everything April has to offer - just a few small moments, noticed and recorded in your own way.
If you'd like to explore more April nature journal pages, you can see my pages from April 2025 here...
There's also more Spring journal inspiration in my March pages here...
You can also discover more weekly nature journal prompts and ideas here...
You might also enjoy more of my seasonal nature journaling, here - or take a look at my first year of nature journaling, here...
If you're just getting started with your first nature journal, this is a gentle place to begin...
Deepen Your Nature Journaling Practice
Deepen your nature journaling practice with me...If you’ve enjoyed my nature journaling reflections, you might also like my 20-lesson course, Imperfect Nature Journaling.
It’s a gently structured, self-paced journey designed to help you:
• Slow down and notice more deeply
• Build confidence in drawing and observing
• Create a calming journaling ritual you can return to
• Feel more connected to the seasons and the natural world
No perfection required. Just curiosity and a notebook.
You can explore the course here whenever you’re ready...
P.S. If you’re just beginning - or would like something quieter and more simple to start with - you might first like to get started with my free 'Getting Started' guide or gain momentum with my 'Gentle Introduction' guide to help you through your first few pages - here...
Explore my main Nature Journaling Hub here...
Shall we stay in touch..?
Each month, I share stories from my own nature journal, new art from my studio, and simple seasonal inspiration to help you feel more connected with the turning year - if you'd like to stay updated, please sign up with your email address below...
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Lotti Brown is a self-taught nature artist and nature journaling educator whose hand-drawn work is inspired by wildlife, folklore, and close observation. With 18 years in creative fields and 10 years creating nature art, she brings deep practical experience to her work. Trained by the Wild Wonder Foundation, she shares nature journaling courses and guides online. Her artwork has been licensed internationally and exhibited at Goole Museum and Bridlington Spa in the East Riding of Yorkshire, UK.
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