Dion Dior is a local nature journalist, natural history illustrator, naturalist, educator and citizen scientist. Her early fascination with bugs and spiders and her love of drawing led her to travel and sketch in many places around the world and then to share her ideas with others.
She explained that nature journaling is the practice of closely observing what is around us using all of the senses and then recording what we see and experience with simple sketches and notes about our location, the weather, our feelings and even questions. It is inexpensive, using only simple equipment like a sketch pad, pencils and colours, and can be done anywhere including in our own large or small urban wildlife gardens.
Dion gave us a basic lesson in how to draw using simple shapes to construct a ‘skeleton’ from which to build the picture. She assured us that we should forget about perfection and encouraged us to just draw. There are many ways to keep a nature journal from observing a range of plants and animals over time as the seasons change, to focusing on a particular species or location. We were encouraged to do what worked best for us and to remember that the most important thing was for the experience to be enjoyable and rewarding.
Dion believes that nature journaling changes a person’s relationship with nature. The practice has many benefits including calming the mind and increasing our appreciation of the beauty and rhythm of nature.
And how important is that in today’s world where we all need to respect and connect with nature and advocate for its protection?
