An Introduction to Creative Nature Journaling

Founded in 1829, the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN) is one of the oldest natural history societies in the world.  Today, we are a registered charity (no. 1204306) that aims to encourage the study and exploration of the natural world in North East England.Each year, NHSN volunteers lead field trips and events across North East England, providing opportunities to experience, enjoy and observe wildlife.EMAIL: nhsn@ncl.ac.uk   PHONE: 0191 208 2790  FACEBOOK: naturalhistorynorthumbria  INSTAGRAM: nee_naturalist  BLUESKY: nenature.bsky.social

NHSN Events

Join artist and naturalist Steve Pardue for a hands-on course that will introduce you to the art of nature journaling.

Great North Museum: Hancock

Join artist and naturalist Steve Pardue for a hands-on, immersive course designed to introduce you to the art of nature journaling at the Great North Museum: Hancock. Whether you've always wanted to start a nature journal but didn’t know where to begin, or if you've tried and struggled to maintain the habit, this course is for you!Over three sessions, you’ll learn how to notice nature in new and meaningful ways and translate your observations into creative expression on the page. You’ll explore some of the fascinating treasures within NHSN’s North East Nature Archive (NENA) and learn how nature journals have played a pivotal role in documenting and preserving our understanding of the natural world.This course is all about observation and creative expression. No need for advanced artistic skills, just a love of nature and a willingness to have a go! You'll learn how to develop a daily journaling habit and how to capture the world around you in your own unique way. Course Overview:Session 1: Tuesday, 1 April 2025 | 1pm – 4pm | Introduction to Nature Journaling<ul><li>Explore the treasures of the NHSN North East Nature Archive (NENA)</li></ul><ul><li>Learn techniques for observation and creative expression</li></ul>Session 2: Tuesday, 15 April 2025 | 1pm – 4pm | Nature Storytelling<ul><li>Explore the museum collections at the Great North Museum: Hancock</li></ul><ul><li>Practice drawing from nature and incorporating storytelling into your journal</li></ul>Session 3: Tuesday, 29 April 2025 | 1pm – 4pm | Completing Your Nature Journal<ul><li>Consolidate your learning and finish your nature journal with watercolours</li></ul><ul><li>Tips for maintaining your journaling practice beyond the course </li></ul>Celebration Event: Tuesday, 20 May 2025 | 3:30pm – 5pmA wonderful opportunity for course participants to come together for tea and cake and celebrate their completed nature journals. By the end of the course, you’ll:<ul><li>Have a completed nature journal to take home</li></ul><ul><li>Have developed the skills and confidence to continue journaling independently</li></ul><ul><li>Gain a deeper connection to the natural world and your own creative expression</li></ul>We’ll provide a small kit of materials to get you started, including:<ul><li>2 Fineliner ink pens</li></ul><ul><li>Steve’s "Shortcut to Nature Journaling" guide</li></ul><ul><li>A blank concertina nature journal </li></ul> At the end of the course, we invite you to contribute your completed journal to the NHSN’s North East Nature Archive (NENA) housed in the Great North Museum: Hancock. If you choose to donate your journal or allow us to scan your pages, your work will become a permanent part of this growing collection, preserving your observations for future generations.This workshop is subsidised by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Nature's Cure in Time of Need: New Voices for North East Nature project. Sign up today and start your journey into the world of nature journaling! About Steve PardueI am an artist and designer, living and working in Northumberland. I combine my love of walking and nature with my art and fill my notebooks with poetic and immersive responses to nature and the world around me. Often my work includes words from music and literature as well as my own words that spring from nature. I work mainly in fountain pen and watercolour.My daytime job is delivering public art commissions and design for outdoor spaces through my design agency from my studio in Hexham. About Nature’s Cure in Time of Need: New Voices for North East NatureNature’s Cure in Time of Need: New Voices for North East Nature is a National Lottery Heritage Fund supported project dedicated to capturing stories about how nature has provided solace and strength during challenging times. The stories you submit as part of this project will form a new collection in NHSN's North East Nature Archive (NENA) housed here in the Great North Museum: Hancock. By preserving these personal narratives in the archive, the project ensures that future generations can connect with the ways nature has shaped and supported our communities.Through workshops, events, and storytelling, Nature’s Cure invites everyone to share their story. Photos will be taken at this event to use on social media and in NHSN publicity material. If you would prefer not to be photographed please let us know at the start of the event.