Rain patters on the roof and drums down the gutters, but doesn’t deter our resident Little Wattlebird. He or she is croaking and squawking raucously from the banksia, surrounded by blooms. I can hear the rain and the bird as I write this: I feel happily connected to nature, in this beloved place I call home. But many people are not so fortunate.
A recent study has found that human connection to nature has declined by more than 60% since 1800. The research also predicts that levels of nature connectedness will continue to decline unless far-reaching changes are made.1
“Nature connectedness is now accepted as a key root cause of the environmental crisis” said Professor Miles Richardson, author of the study. “It’s vitally important for our own mental health as well.”1,2
The main aim of my work is to connect people with nature. I do this by creating images and writing about nature, often together, and selling these creations on a range of items, and also through practising and teaching nature journaling. I started out doing this mostly to help nature: along the way I have also realised how important nature connection is for human health.
This post describes an approach to nature journaling that I think is accessible to a wide range of people and is focussed on connecting to nature. I call it ‘feel-good’ nature journaling.