Nature Journaling with Henrietta

On Saturday, 6 September, Tamworth Regional Landcare Association had the pleasure of welcoming Henrietta Mooney, ecologist, natural history illustrator, and founder of the Hunter Region Field Naturalists and Nature Journaling Club, for a wonderful nature journaling workshop.

Henrietta’s work combines science, art, and conservation, creating watercolour paintings, felted sculptures, and educational resources for schools, government, and community programs. Through her passion, she demonstrates how nature journaling can become a tool for conservation, helping people connect deeply with the natural world.

During the workshop, around 16 participants were guided to slow down, observe, and discover their creativity. Henrietta encouraged us to draw leaves, experiment with pencils and watercolours, and record what we notice, reminding us that it’s not about perfection, but about seeing, appreciating, and expressing.

Later in the evening, Henrietta was also our guest speaker at the TRLA AGM, where she again inspired attendees to be brave and simply start drawing. Whether using circles, lines, or stick figures to capture birds, trees, and leaves, the message was clear: we protect the things we love, and the more people who love an area, park, or Landcare space, the more protection it has.

Henrietta’s initiative, Art in the Park, shows just how powerful this connection can be. Many people left the night motivated to get outside, explore, and start their own simple field kit, just a sketch pad, pencils, and an eraser are enough to begin.

The evening closed with a sense of inspiration: to look closer, record what we see, and celebrate both nature and our creativity.