Why Keep a Nature Journal?

Are you wondering whether it’s worth keeping a nature journal?

You might have come across nature journaling and wondered whether it’s really worth starting - whether it’s something you’d enjoy, or something you’d keep up with.

It can seem simple on the surface… but often, it becomes something much more meaningful over time.

This page shares why I keep a nature journal - and what it’s brought into my life...

Nature journaling is not about making pretty pictures - it's all about your personal connection to nature, instead!

Nature journaling isn’t about making perfect or even particularly “pretty” pictures - it’s about your personal connection to nature.

It can be a simple, calming, and surprisingly joyful practice - a way to slow down and feel more connected with the natural world around you.

You don’t need anything special to begin - no expensive materials, no special trips...

You can start exactly where you are - whether that’s in town or in the countryside, with or without a garden.

There are always small moments of nature around us - we just need to begin noticing them.

If you're wondering about what nature journaling actually is, I explain here...

Why I keep a nature journal

Everyone will have their own reasons for keeping a nature journal.

This is mine...

I started keeping a nature journal after my dad died, quite soon after, while we were waiting for the funeral.

I just started with a few sheets of paper, and I just took myself outside and started drawing what I could see. I've always loved to draw nature, and I hoped it might calm my heart and my mind, and it did...

I found that the closer I engaged with the natural world - looking more closely, drawing slowly, making notes about what I could hear, see, and what I felt - the more it brought me out of my worries and grief and into a quieter, steadier place.

There was something deeply grounding in the rhythm of the natural world.

So I kept going...

And without really planning to, I suddenly found I was keeping a nature journal - and that I wanted to continue...

From my very first nature journal page

One of the most important things I’ve learned since beginning is this: it isn’t about making beautiful pictures.

As an artist, I’ve sometimes pressure on myself to create something perfect. But in doing that, I lost sight of why I was drawing and creating in the first place.

Nature journaling isn't about the finished page. It's about the process...

Who ate my leaf? Use a nature journal to explore curiosities in nature

Why has this acorn gone so bumpy? Discovering all about Knopper Galls in my nature journal

It’s about stepping out of a busy mind and into your senses...

• Feeling the pencil in your hand...

• Noticing the pressure of the tip as it moves across the paper...

• Following the curves of a leaf with your eye as you draw it...

These small, simple actions bring a sense of calm - and help you reconnect with the present moment.

And this is why nature journaling can feel so beneficial, both mentally and emotionally...

And actually, you don’t even have to draw.

If drawing isn’t your thing, you can still keep a nature journal - through words, lists, notes, or simple observations.

There’s no wrong way to do this.

If you do enjoy drawing or painting, though, it can become a gentle, no-pressure way to develop your skills.

A space to explore ideas, experiment, and create - just for yourself.

And perhaps most importantly, a way to feel more connected to nature - I'm finding this connection matters more than anything else!

If you find yourself drawn to this idea - to slowing down, noticing more, and keeping a small record of those moments - you might like a gentle place to begin.

I’ve created a simple Introduction to Nature Journaling guide to help you take those first steps, with prompts and guidance for your first few pages. Explore my Introduction to Nature Journaling guide here

Drawing a rose from my garden in my nature journal

Nature journaling isn’t quite the same as nature drawing or keeping a sketchbook  it focuses more on observation, curiosity, and recording your personal experiences.

If you’d like to explore this further, I’ve written more about the difference between nature journaling and nature drawing here.

Continue exploring...

If you’d like to begin your own nature journaling practice, you might find these helpful:

• A simple guide to getting started (with a free resource)
• A gentle introduction to nature journaling
• Weekly prompts for inspiration

You can also explore:

• Mindfulness in nature
• Seasonal nature journaling ideas
• My first year of nature journal pages
• Nature books and recommendations

If you’d like a little more guidance as you begin:

Introduction to Nature Journaling - a gentle guide to help you start your first pages

And if you feel ready to explore more deeply:

Imperfect Nature Journaling - a self-paced course to help you build a calm, creative practice over time

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...

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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Shop My Current Collection of Art Prints

Explore all my art here

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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.