Naturewriting Resources and Inspiration

I was chatting to a friend about our Wildlife and Arts Workshop tomorrow. We talked about creative writing and Blogging which is close to my heart even though there is nothing very creative about my writing. However I was intrigued by her thoughts on the subject and references to Nature Writing in this format. I have very hurriedly searched for such Blogs and to my amazement found some interesting examples, not all on Blogger!
One of the first to review was this offering and like some others I found it draws inspiration from Henry
Thoreau. Here is the introduction and an excellent quotation.



Nature Writing Resources and Inspiration

Nature Writing for readers and writers

Henry David Thoreau's Birthday—July 12, 1817

"My theme shall not be far-fetched. I will tell of homely everyday phenomena and adventures...What you call barrenness and poverty is to me simplicity. God could not be unkind to me if he should try. I love the winter with its imprisonment and its cold, for it compels the prisoner to try new fields and resources. I love best to have each thing in its season only, and enjoy doing without it at all other times. It is the greatest of all advantages to enjoy no advantage at all."

Henry David Thoreau in The Journal 1837-1861,
New York Review Books. Edited by Damion Searls, 2009.

Celebrate Henry David Thoreau's birthday by enjoying things seen in nature only in the summer, and by reading his journal. This new edition is inexpensive and compellingly organized for inspiration and enlightenment.

Thoreau, in his journal, says several times that people often rush to far lands when the wondrous gifts of nature are close to home, all the time. We need spend no money to experience their riches. "My themes shall not be far -fetched. I will tell of homely everyday phenomena and adventures. " In the spirit of Thoreau, Kathy Handyside shares with us the story of a common bird that brought a gift to her life: A Starling in the House.

Our next event

3RD Annual Workshop for Art and Wildlife.

Somerset Wildlife Trust , Heart of the Levels Group.

Reminder of event.

 

For the third year we are running our Art and Wildlife workshops on June 27th. Jenny Graham, a well known Somerset artist will help us look at the countryside and wildlife through artist’s eyes. Our challenge is to explore and capture our own artistic interpretations in drawing, photography, creative writing or some other way. Perhaps this year someone will compose music!   Eve Kerswill will again help and encourage us to put ideas onto paper through writing. 

This year Isle Abbotts Village Hall is the venue and we will follow the same programme as before. We start with an introduction , then a walk  for ideas, then practical interpretation in the Hall.  Bring a lunch,  tea and coffee provided.

We hope this workshop will continue to be a relaxed  and friendly way to try your hand at  capturing  images of nature and wildlife. If photographers can bring a laptop it will be helpful for viewing digital photos.If you received the Winter 2009 Wildlife Trust magazine you will have seen on the cover a photo taken during one of our sessions last year. I'm sure you could do better and we will submit it to the magazine editor for future use!

Isle Abbotts is a lovely and  small village surrounded by open countryside which should provide plenty of ideas for workshop activities. We are grateful to Jenny for supporting our event.

Here are the details:

Walk plus  Arts and Wildlife Workshop

Is it suitable for families ?– No special facilities for under tens will be provided.

Sunday June 27th,     10 am to 4 pm                                        

Jenny Graham, well known local artist will help  and advise us . ( Her web site is at: http://www.jennygraham.co.uk )

Meeting Place/Map Ref:   Isle Abbotts Village Hall.   ST 350 207

Closest Town  Ilminster

Where to Park: in road.

Is Venue Suitable for Wheelchair-User/Limited Mobility:  Restricted.

Admission fee:    £5   to cover cost of hall.    

Items which may be required:   Bring a lunch , Tea and coffee provided. Own painting materials.  Camera.

If you wish to bring along something you prepared earlier that would be most welcome.

Please confirm your attendance to us in advance to help with catering and to keep  within reasonable numbers.

BBC News - 'Green light' for global biodiversity science panel

Whats all this about! It seems that world governments have actually agreed on something ,which is a pleasant change. I assume that includes the USA?
On Friday 11th June at 10:51 local time in the South Korean port city of Busan a new international organisation was set up to monitor biodiversity and to advise governments in the same way as the IPCC has been doing for climate change.

 Read more about it here:


BBC News - 'Green light' for global biodiversity science panel

Obviously this is a Yellow Iris! I found a multitude of them in a damp gully on the north Cornwall coast last week. Beautiful. I also saw a Green Hairstreak butterfly. First time I've seen one in the countryside.

Today I received an invitation to attend a Somerset County Council Forum titled, "Post 2010. What next for biodiversity in Somerset" . That should be interesting with looming Gov cutbacks on spending.