Red Centre adventures, plus more nature journaling dates

Yay, I finally made it to the Northern Territory! And the Central Australian landscapes were sublime. So much colour and beauty, at every scale: from the mountains, through to the patterns of the vegetation, and right down to the individual animals, rocks and plants.

The rock wallabies were particularly delightful, basking in the sun, way up on a rocky hillside.

Our campsite at Redbank Gorge was set in a woodland of mulga trees, Acacia aneura. We walked around Ormiston Pound – one of the best day walks I have ever done – and climbed Mount Sonder, both in the West MacDonnell Ranges.

I even had a chance to run a nature journaling workshop at the lovely Owen Springs Reserve, near Alice Springs, thanks to the efforts of my ranger friend Sheridan, and other Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife staff. A really engaged and lively group came together on Sunday the 2nd of July, in a dry sandy riverbed surrounded by river red gums. In the background, the hilltops of the Waterhouse Range were glowing orange against the blue sky. We enjoyed billy tea and home-made muffins, while some terrific nature journal entries were created.

Yesterday I also had the pleasure of working with Jutta Godwin of the Cubberla-Witton Catchment Group to run a nature journaling workshop in Biami Yumba Reserve in Fig Tree Pocket, Brisbane. I have no photographic evidence to show you yet, but the event was sold out, and it seemed that a fun and inspiring morning was had by all.

Upcoming events

If you’re interested in nature journaling, and are near Brisbane or the Gold Coast, check out these dates (see the Events page for more details):

Toohey Forest Nature Journaling workshop, Sat 29th July 2017. This event is SOLD OUT. Add your name to the waiting list here.

National Tree Day at Paten Park Native Nursery, Sun 30th July, 2017. I’ll have a nature journaling display, and will be selling books, nature journaling kits and greeting cards.

Discovery in the Gardens, Gold Coast Botanic Gardens, Sat 12th Aug, 2017. I’ll be demonstrating the links between science and nature journaling, and will also have books, nature journaling kits and greeting cards for sale.

Nature Journaling workshop, Cubberla Creek Reserve, Sat 9th September, supported by the Cubberla-Witton Catchment Group, Brisbane (see the Events page for more details).

And even if you’re not into nature journaling, I hope you get a chance to immerse yourself in nature soon. You know it’s good for you!