British Nature Folklore Library
Stories, Seasons & Celtic Tree Wisdom

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...

The folklore of September birds from my nature journal

Folklore meets the birds of the autumnal equinox in my September nature journal notes, here...

Exploring the folklore of fungi in my nature journal

Autumn rains spark magical fungi finds as I explore the folklore of the season here...

Birds and berries foretell winter weather in my November nature journal

As winter begins, winter visitors lend a magical moment and help us understand the folklore of winter migrant birds, here...

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.

Goldfinch folklore (my goldfinch art)

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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...

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Folklore of Kingfishers - coming soon..!

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Kingfisher folklore (my kingfisher art)

Celtic Tree Calendar Folklore

Explore the myths and meaning of the Celtic Tree Calendar

The 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 collection of tree myths and meanings on this page...

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...

The Oak Papers book by James Canton

The Oak Papers

Two great books about robins

Robin books

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... (P.S. - my earlier art collections are 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....