Create a nature sketchbook

Some things we do in the garden have clear steps and timely actions, whether that's sowing seeds at the ideal time or harvesting as our produce becomes ripe.

A nature sketchbook is a relaxed, creative ongoing activity with total freedom. It is a place where you can record things you've seen, done, or like in nature in any style of your choosing.

You could sketch every day, or whenever the fancy takes you. And there are no end of ways to present your sketches (see below for inspiration).

As your sketchbook becomes full, you may enjoy looking back over time and reminding yourself of what you've noticed through the seasons. This can be particularly enjoyable to do in winter, as we're inside more dreaming of the growing year ahead. You may also enjoy sharing it with others - you might inspire someone else to start their own sketchbook!

As mentioned above, there are really no rules when it comes to what to include in a nature sketchbook. Here are some ideas if you'd like some inspiration:

• Pictures of your favourite flowers
• A sketch of a food crop over time, showing how it progresses from flower to harvest
• Wildlife you have observed in the garden
• A picture that defines the season - e.g. leaves on the ground in autumn, a frosty seed head in winter
• An interesting object, like a garden ornament, bird bath or bug house
• A close-up of the texture of a plant or item in nature
• An abstract picture that gives a sense of the main colours in a flower border
• A photograph of something of interest in nature, surrounded by a sketch frame or doodles
• A detailed observational drawing of a plant, with different parts named
• A landscape drawing of somewhere you love - a park, a public garden
• A poem or paragraph description with accompanying pictures

You could add a written description, or leave the sketch to speak for itself. You may like to include the date against each sketch, so you can look back and remember when you observed different items.