Nature collection - bringing a bit of the outside in

A wonderful way to connect with nature is to create a nature table. This can be a simple corner of your desk or a place on your mantle piece, or it could be a dedicated table where you create seasonal or themed nature settings. 

During nature walks, gather natural objects that capture your creative imagination. Look for seeds and seed pods, dried leaves, feathers and twigs. These can be arranged on a nature table to provide you with journaling inspiration at times when you are unable to journal outdoors. Simply take something from your nature table and use it as the starting place to inspire a journaling page.

You can create themed nature displays, for example, a vase filled with feathers of different sizes and shapes or a group of different seed pods. I use a lovely old wooden box that I found at a market to display my nature treasures. 

I consider the things that I bring inside as being on loan from the natural world; a natural library book which will be returned in time. I always try to return the objects to nature once I have enjoyed them for a while.

Remember these few guidlines when borrowing from nature: 

• Never remove a nest from a tree, even if it looks empty. A bird may return to it. 

• Never take anything from a national park or other ecologically sensitive area.

• Picking native wildflowers is not advisable. Many are sensitive or rare. The best way to enjoy wildflowers is to capture them as a field sketch in your nature journal or by taking a photograph.

• If possible, after you have finished with them, return the nature treasures back to the same place you found them.

Nature collections can be a great way for you to bring a little bit of the outdoors into your home, keeping you connected to nature and inspired to create your next journal page.