Nature Journaling
I use drawing and creative practice to develop my relationship with the natural world. After many years working as a software engineer in predominantly urban environments, I began to feel increasingly disconnected from nature.
In 2021, during the slower pace of the pandemic, I started a project to document and identify the trees, plants, and flowers I encountered on walks in my North London neighbourhood.
What began as a plan to fill one or two sketchbooks grew into ten over the course of a year, as I became deeply engaged in the process of close observation, the attention it requires and the joy and awe it brings.
Since then, my understanding of plant life has continued to develop through self-directed study, research, and volunteering with Heath Hands, a charity dedicated to the conservation of green spaces in North London.
Since 2024, I have been leading regular nature journaling workshops with Heath Hands, now running twice a month. These sessions are designed to offer participants time and space to engage with the natural environment through guided drawing and writing prompts.
While prompts help focus attention, participants are encouraged to follow their own interests and curiosity. The workshops bring together a diverse group of people, fostering thoughtful discussion and a shared sense of connection through an interest in the natural world.
I have also delivered workshops inspired by the gardens at Charleston House and OmVed Gardens. A program of latest workshops is available on my Instagram account.
Reflections from participants
“This workshop has been a lovely few hours connecting with and thinking about nature in
different ways.With Shilpa’s incredibly creative prompts we were invited to journal,draw,
imagine and create however felt right for us. Hampstead Heath is such a beautiful place to
observe seasons and it is great to notice and observe this through the workshop”
“I am so glad to have found Shilpa’s nature journaling workshop. It helps me connect to the natural environment and creativity, slowing down and appreciating the rich diversity around us, helping us feel embedded rather than surface-level. It makes us experience that around us; interacting and allowing fascination to seep and flourish into words and form. She challenges and teaches, inspires and allows. I hope the workshops continue as they bring so much value.”
“When I first came to nature journaling in the depth of winter I thought it would be about
words, observation, recording, time and objectivity. All those words still make sense except for objectivity because my experience has been about realising my connection with the growth and decay around me. I’ve learnt to experiment, to feel and understand how feeling and looking are really linked. As I walk into the heath now, I experience things in a different way, with all my senses and I have understood that the more you know the more you notice. I am so grateful for this.”
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