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.
‘The danger is that nature becomes something ‘out there’, something distant from most people,’ says Alex. ‘It becomes something that you visit occasionally and not something that is all around us, not something that we are a part of. Nature journaling combats these problems by inspiring attentiveness to nature wherever we are. The more a person engages with this activity, the more that attentiveness grows. That attentiveness leads to knowledge of what is present, love for what is close by, and a heightened desire to protect it.’
Alex brings people together to learn about nature journaling and to share their experiences. His online community provides a place where like minds can share their inspirations, writings, photos and illustrations. Membership of the community is growing, and as people are inspired, they are signing up for courses and workshops, which Alex runs both remotely and in person. He teaches online, helping people who can’t get to in-person classes to develop their observational skills. His live tutorials are enjoyed all over the world, bringing people together through a shared passion.
Closer to home, he leads groups of people through the East Devon countryside to explore the nature on their doorstep. His day-long workshops and longer courses are filled with people keen to make a closer connection with nature through a nurturing, creative, activity. Some participants are keen naturalists who want to record their findings in a more expressive way or learn how to keep a field notebook.
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.
Building on his interest in the wellbeing benefits of nature, Alex has introduced a nature journaling retreat which will take place at the School of Art and Wellbeing in Honiton. Over a weekend in June, participants will enjoy nature journaling in the beautiful grounds of the art school, with wildflower meadows, formal gardens, an orchard, vegetable plot and a secret forest garden. During the weekend, participants can also take part in meditation sessions. Alex is a Buddhist and goes on a silent retreat every year, so when he met Rachel Mann of Devon and Dorset Meditation by chance, the idea of including meditation as part of his nature journaling retreat made a perfect fit.
For the extra keen, there’s the option of a full-day journaling hike with Alex in the Undercliffs National Nature Reserve. Alex has designed the weekend for people who want to connect to nature through creativity and feel the need to experience a slower pace of life for a few days.
‘If I were to create my own job title,’ he says, ‘it would be professional observer of nature’s details.’
alexboonart.com
