You do not need to be able to ‘Do Art’ to nature journal. All you need is curiosity.

Lithgow is lucky to have an abundance of trees, both native and introduced throughout our district, but have you ever stopped to take a closer look? Are all gum trees the same, and how do you tell them apart? What grows beneath them, around them and in them?

Your facilitator Tracie will guide this introductory session as you begin by exploring Endeavour Park to look at the huge variety of trees and take a short walk around to take notes and collect ideas, highlighting the history of the park from a pine plantation to the Adventure Playground on site today.

You might like to make a map of your journey in colours and features, or just explore the glorious colours of nature. You might like to learn more about the journey of a leaf from green to brown, or simply collect and wonder at the beauty of autumn. It’s then up to you to journal what you find fascinating.

So, ignite your curiosity and join us as we explore the Lithgow’s trees.

“The benefit of journaling is not limited to what you produce.. rather, found in your experience and how you think along the way.” (John Muir Laws, 2016)

Places are limited so registrations are essential. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Who: Children 7+, Adults and families welcome.

What to bring: All art materials supplied. Wear clothes and footwear suitable for walking including sun protection and insect repellent. A smart phone can be useful to take photos of your chosen subject in situ, as well as access to citizen science ID tools such as iNaturalist. As we will be journalling outside, some people like to bring a folding chair, stool, or mat to sit on. For participants who attended previous creative workshops, bring along your journaling kit and favourite materials.

How: We start with an introduction to nature journaling, then take a walk through our the park (weather permitting), to take notes and collect ideas. We’ll stop for morning tea and a chat, then get to work completing our journals. There will be plenty of hard copy reference material available also if you do not have access to a smart phone.

In the event of wet weather, the event will be held at WSU Transformation Hub and the facilitator will bring natural items collected from trees to inspire your work.

About our guest presenter:

Tracie McMahon. Tracie is a writer, journaler and nature lover through art, story. bushwalking and teaching. She was a finalist in the Blue Mountains City Council – Year like no other competition and GBMCAN Regenesis – Water stories project. Her writing and art can be found online at Bushwalk Australia, (https://bushwalk.com/magazine), with the Planetary Health Team on Lithgow Area Local News and The Moving Pen (www.themovingpen.com.au).

Contact Karen Purser for more information on 0421 449 426 or email k.purser@westernsydney.edu.au

This workshop is part of the ‘Regenerating Lithgow – People, Place and Planet’ project, an initiative of Western Sydney University’s Maldhan Lithgow Transformation Hub and was made possible through grant funding from the Commonwealth Government - National Recovery and Resilience Agency.

Feature Image: Tracie McMahon