Creative Nature

Most people are fascinated by wildlife and, increasingly, people are spending more time outdoors, re-connecting with the countryside. In the past people kept nature diaries and used inspiration from the natural environment to feed in to all sort of hobbies, from embroidery to poetry writing.

In 2007 CHI developed a new recording project based on creative recording of the countryside and nature diaries. From May 2007 to July 2008, 60 sessions were run, with just under 400 places filled with attendees. Events included partnerships with the Adult Learning Service and Library Services for training sessions which encouraged people to record and celebrate nature in different ways. Topics have included digital photography, writing, poetry, themed heritage trails, botantical drawing, sketching, landscape/tree drawing, creating inspired artworks from the natural environment (abstract and printing), map making, paper and book making, as well as use of ICT. Sessions were led by Heritage Wardens, beginner tutors, lecturers and creative practitioners.

This project has brought new people to recording wildlife, and outcomes included people developing new hobbies and signing up for further training outside of CHI.

People can request a free Recording Naturally pack (pdf document, 1.78mb) which is full of ideas for making your own wildlife diaries, with modern day twists such as wildlife web sites and digital scrap books. Also available free of charge is Natural Inspiration (pdf document 590kb) which tells you how to record nature and the countryside in creative and innovative ways. These free packs complement many of the wildlife and habitat surveys available from the Initiative, which was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Rutland County Council.