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British Nature Folklore Library
Stories, Seasons & Celtic Tree Wisdom
By Lotti Brown
Snow goose - nature meets the world of myth and magicBritish nature folklore hub featuring Celtic tree meanings, seasonal wildlife stories, and illustrated folklore nature notes from the UK...
Welcome to my Folklore Library - a small but growing collection of gentle stories drawn from British nature, seasonal traditions, and the quiet magic woven through our wildlife and trees.
Each piece is illustrated with my hand-drawn artwork or inspired by my own nature journal, connecting myth, meaning, and the landscapes around my home in Yorkshire.
Here you’ll find some of my Celtic Tree Calendar pages, pages that feature my art with an article about the folklore, myths and meanings of the featured bird or animal - and a few seasonal folklore-inspired nature journal notes...
And as the seasons turn, more stories, traditions, and wildlife lore will also find their way here.
Seasonal Folklore & Nature Notes
The seasons in Britain have their own quiet folklore - small shifts of light, first frosts, returning birds, berry-heavy hedgerows, and the old stories tied to each month.
In these seasonal notes, I share gentle nature observations from my walks and nature journal, woven together with the meanings, customs, and old beliefs that have travelled through our countryside for generations.
Think of it as a slow wander through the year, noticing how wildlife, weather, and story all meet in the turning of the seasons...
Folklore meets the birds of the autumnal equinox in my September nature journal notes, here...
Autumn rains spark magical fungi finds as I explore the folklore of the season here...
As winter begins, winter visitors lend a magical moment and help us understand the folklore of winter migrant birds, here...
Discover the folklore of the winter berries brightening up our hedgerows in my December nature journal pages, here...
Explore the folklore of the month of mud and milk in my February nature journal pages, here...
Follow the signs of Spring - blossoms, birds, butterflies - in my March nature journal pages...
Explore the month of change, growth & movement in my April nature journal pages, here...
Explore the month of abundance and growth and discover wildflower folklore tidbits in my May nature journal pages here...
Discover young birds, garden flowers and more wildflower folklore in my June nature journal pages...
Wildlife Folklore
Birds and wild creatures have always carried stories with them - symbols of hope, omens of weather, guardians of the land, or messengers between worlds. Here you’ll find simple, illustrated folklore notes exploring the meanings and myths behind some of Britain’s most beloved wildlife.
These pieces blend gentle storytelling, old beliefs, and my own illustrations and nature journal observations, inviting you to see each creature not just as part of the landscape, but as part of the deeper story woven into it.
Explore the folklore of goldfinches with me as I share my own goldfinch nest diary from the time goldfinches nested right outside my bedroom window - and which also inspired this delicate goldfinch illustration...
Explore the folklore of wrens with me - from winter's king to the bird of the fairy queen - let's get to know this magical little bird better - illustrated with my hand-drawn wren art...
Explore the folklore of Kingfishers with me - a magical bird of protection, peace and prosperity who can light your way - illustrated with my own hand-drawn kingfisher artwork...
Explore the folklore of the Song Thrush with me - a bird cherished for its song and seen as a herald of Spring - illustrated with my own hand-drawn Song Thrush artwork...
The blue tit is a sweet little bird symbolising Spring, joy and resilience - explore the folklore and meaning of the blue tit here...
One of our prettiest and most colourful birds that seems to sing of Spring - once, the chaffinch's song was said to foretell rain...
Explore more of the folklore and meaning of the chaffinch, here...
Our Spring herald and dawn-singer, the beautiful blackbird is one of our most-loved garden birds - explore his folklore & symbolism here...
A bird often recognised by its haunting call, the lapwing has links with our Easter traditions - a bird of resilience, community, liminality and longing - explore the folklore of the lapwing with me here...
Another symbol of our Easter folklore - the hare is a wild creature with links to myth and magic - find out more about the hare here...
Birds of summer skiesBird of freedom and summer joy - explore swallow folklore, myth & meaning...
Bird of song and perfect dawnings - explore the folklore and symbolism of the skylark here...
Bird of mystery and summer skies - explore the myths and meanings of the swift here...
Bird of home and heavens - explore the folklore and meaning of the house martin here...
Corvid Art & Folklore
The raven is one of our most mysterious birds with ancient myths and legends following her...
Discover some of her folklore, meaning & my raven art here...
The rook is an ancient bird symbolising home and community...
The crow is a clever and very socially-advanced bird and symbol of a Celtic goddess - discover more crow folklore, myth and symbolism here...
The jackdaw is a cheeky, cheerful and popular bird, once believed to be sacred - explore the myths, meanings and folklore of the jackdaw with me here...
Celtic Tree Calendar Folklore
Explore the myths and meaning of the Celtic Tree CalendarThe Celtic Tree Calendar is full of myth, meaning, and the old seasonal wisdom woven through our native British trees like rowan, birch, hawthorn and elder.
If you’d like to wander deeper into their stories, you can explore the full collection of tree folklore here - explore the Celtic Tree Calendar art collection of trees on this page - and look into the history of the Celtic Tree Calendar here...
Books for Folklore Lovers
If you’re looking for more ways to explore British nature folklore, you’ll find a handful of lovely books reviewed below - one delving into the stories and symbolism of the oak tree, and another two exploring the rich life and folklore of the robin.
While not entirely focused on folklore, the books are still useful if you’d like to learn more about the cultural importance, stories and myths behind the wildlife we meet in our gardens and woodlands...
Where to go next...
Thank you for wandering through these stories with me. I hope something here has sparked a little wonder, a memory, or a feeling of connection to the wild and quiet places of Britain.
This is a living library - I’ll be adding new notes, trees, birds, and seasonal folklore as the months turn. You’re always welcome to return, make a cup of tea, and explore the stories waiting here among the leaves and feathers...
Many of these folklore notes spark the ideas behind my artwork. If you’d like to explore my current art collections, you’ll find them here...
If you enjoy noticing nature, you might like to try nature journaling - find out what it is and how to start here...
If you love gentle stories of British nature, folklore, and the turning seasons, you can join my monthly letter below. I share new folklore posts, illustrated nature notes, and early peeks at my artwork....
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...
Recent Articles
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Bramble Meaning, Myth & Symbolism - Celtic Tree Calendar Art
Sep 02, 26 11:32 AM
A look at bramble meaning, myth and symbolism as I share my bramble Celtic Tree Calendar art for the month of 'Vine'... -
Nature Journal Prompts
Aug 26, 26 04:05 AM
Easy nature journal prompts to inspire and encourage you - one per week... -
August Nature Journaling Ideas - What to Notice in Late Summer
Aug 26, 26 03:37 AM
Looking for August nature journaling ideas? Discover berries, seeds, gathering swallows, tiny insects, harvest and the subtle signs of summer beginning to turn.
Shop My Current Artwork Collections
My art is available as sustainable art prints, notebooks, greetings cards, tote bags and clothing in my Teemill shop.
Find my stockists for all my earlier artworks here...
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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