Alex Boon is passionate about nature journaling. He is on a mission to share with others the joy he finds in the small details of nature close to home.
Alex, a skilled artist and writer, believes that nature journaling is about the experience of creating and not necessarily about the quality of the content. He was taught to paint by his grandmother, and inspired by her gift of a copy of ‘The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady’ – Edith Holden’s nature journal with illustrations, poetry, thoughts and observations of the Warwickshire countryside.
“You don’t have to be good at art”, says Alex, “it’s about the connection between you and nature and how you record that creatively. You will get better the more you practise, but that’s not the main aim; it’s about doing something positive. It could be scientific in focus, or creative, or spiritual. It is a hobby accessible to anybody with a passion for nature and an interest in learning more about it or undertaking a personal reflective journey with nature at its centre.”
A nature journal is a combination of an artist’s sketchbook, a writer’s journal and a naturalist’s log. It could be in the form of a book, an annotated photo album, a digital blog or even a themed Instagram grid.
“There are no rules about how to keep a nature journal”, says Alex “any styles are valid and there is no need to feel constrained to one approach; you might keep a range of different journals or try something new every year.
While working as an environmental scientist, Alex began combining a knowledge of nature with his creative talents, and has now moved away from academia to focus on nature journaling. Last year, he received a bursary from Devon Artist Network for his participation in Devon Open Studios, the Network’s flagship event. This helped him to showcase his work and raise his profile as one of the UK’s only nature journaling educators.
He strongly believes that we need more nature journalers; that we have to respond to nature more attentively because we are losing our connection with the natural environment. According to a study by the University of Derby, the UK ranks amongst the lowest countries in Europe for our connectedness with nature. Although David Attenborough documentaries and TV programmes such as Springwatch are becoming ever more popular, Alex believes we’re not making a true connection with nature.
Alex believes in the physical and mental health benefits of engaging with the natural environment by creatively recording a relationship with nature. He is keen to develop activities through social prescribing to combat depression and other mental health challenges.
More information about how to get involved in nature journaling, including Alex’s courses, workshops and online community, is available on his website alexboonart.com.
Gillian Taylor PR 
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