In the garden, we often notice plants self-seeding, sprouting by themselves in conditions that are just right for them. This article is a celebration of ‘volunteer’ plants in your garden. Gardening coach Kate Wall teaches that weeds spring up in soil that has specific pH and nutrient levels, which can teach us a lot about the soil they thrive in. Either in your garden (if you have one) or in your nearby nature, notice the patterns of plants that we might consider weeds or ‘volunteers’. Reflect on the resilience of nature and the ways that nature finds a way to thrive, even in disturbed habitats. What can we learn from these patterns? How can you document this in your nature journal?

Fire plays an important role in certain ecosystems and organisms can evolve ways of surviving and thriving in these environments. Indigenous fire practices are a way of taking care of the land and can be used to help certain species regenerate and flourish. This video shares more about cultural burning practices in Australia. To learn more about the ways that cultural burning can facilitate healing for land and people, listen to these podcasts. Do some reading and listening about cultural burning practices and how they are used to take care of the land. Is fire a regular feature of your environment? How does culture intertwine with nature in your area?

Seasons provide a chance to witness cycles in nature first-hand. In a landscape that experiences four seasons the changes are clearly visible. Spring brings new growth as plants bloom and animals awaken. Summer brings warmth, abundant vegetation, and active wildlife. In autumn, leaves change colour and fall, preparing for winter. Winter is a time of dormancy, with cold temperatures and slowed biological activity, setting the stage for spring renewal. Each journey through the cycle offers the opportunity to nature journal these cyclical changes and the renewal of life. Do you live in a landscape that experiences four seasons? Maybe your landscape is evergreen and you experience more subtle seasonal changes. Perhaps your landscape is marked by seasons of drought and flooding. Whatever your seasons, pay attention to the ways that life begins, flourishes, becomes dormant and is then renewed in this yearly cycle of life.

"Rewilding" is the approach to conservation founded on the idea that nature knows best how to restore itself, without a lot of human intervention. This film from the World Economic Forum explains how the process can work for forests. In the UK, local organisations promote ‘No Mow May’ where people are encouraged to let their lawns grow during the month of May, to allow flowers to blossom and provide food for pollinators. Pay attention to your nearby nature a see if you can notice ways that nature begins to restore herself in disturbed habitats, when humans allow the space and time. You could document these changes in your journal over time.

We all have cycles in our own nature journaling practice. Sometimes we are busy every day, documenting what we notice around us, and at other times we are occupied with other things or not motivated to keep up the practice. These periods of dormancy are natural and it is important to acknowledge that, when the time is right, we will enter a renewed phase of enthusiasm and motivation to nature journal. Be gentle with yourself when you go through these phases. Each phase is important and mirrors the stages that we can witness in nature.

Through restoration projects, we can play a role in the renewal and regeneration of the landscape. Our own Yvea Moore has spent her life working on restoration projects as well as documenting restoration in her nature journal. You can follow Yvea’s Be The Change series on YouTube which is sharing stories of stewardship in the nature journal community. What are the ways that you take care of nature? How can you lean into the role of nature steward and let your efforts renew and regenerate your local area?