Location: Anchor Building & Community Garden at The Heart of Newhaven, Edinburgh
Date/time: 3-5pm | Friday 13 November, 18 December, 15 January, 12 February, 12 March, 23 April
Taking the time to connect with nature and your own creativity is a great way to boost your wellbeing and form a deeper connection with the shifting seasons. This workshop series invites you to join likeminded folk each month to be inspired by what is growing at The Heart of Newhaven Community Garden and explore a range of creative techniques together.
I started Nature Journal Club at The Heart of Newhaven back in May 2026, with a group of 12 participants, together we’ve made cyanotype prints, experimented with bundle dying and leaf printing, tried out different journalling prompts and filled our books with a seasonal record of what is growing on our doorstep. I’m excited to see how the Nature Journal Club can continue to grow and develop as the seasons shift!
Each session will have a theme inspired by what is happening in the garden, offering an opportunity for experimental mark making and mindful moments that invite you to slow down, engage your senses and get lost in the creative process.
Over the 6 sessions we will get hands-on with a range of nature journalling prompts and creative techniques inspired by, and using, what is growing in the garden. We will also explore making nature-based Artists Books as a way to collate and display our seasonal findings.
We will use the community garden as a source of inspiration, gathering and making outside (when the weather is kind) but we will also have a base in the Anchor Building nearby, providing a warm space to retreat too when the weather turns.
I have chose not to do a definitive write up of what we will do each month as this will ebb and flow depending on the weather, what is growing and the interests of the group. I also plan to bring other Artists and creative practitioners in for some of the sessions to share techniques and inspiration!
Alongside lots of making and noticing there will also be the opportunity to make connections and get to know your fellow nature journallers, enjoy seasonal home-baking and fresh herbal tea! Follow up links, prompts and instructions will be shared after each session, with the option to work into your journal and keep in touch via the Whatsapp group for some gentle encouragement before our next meet-up.
A few things to note before signing up:
- This workshop series is only bookable as a 6 month block – I am keen to establish a group of 12 people that will return each month to work through the course together. If you sign up and cannot make one of the sessions for any reason, unfortunately I will not be able to offer a refund, so please do double check you are available for all (or the majority) of dates outlined.
- If the price of this workshop series is a barrier to you – you may be interested in applying for my October – March block of Create in Nature Community Sessions, taking place at The Heart of Newhaven, dates tbc. I am running these sessions in collaboration with Community Garden Coordinater Hayley Chandler – there are 12 free places available to people who are facing barriers to nature based creative activities – this has been made possible due to funding from The Warm Welcome Fund. I am currently working with a range of support organisations to take referrals, please get in touch for more information on this if you would like to apply or know someone who may be interested.
- If you have access requirements – please get in touch so I can asses if the garden space and Anchor Building will be accessible to you and can shape the sessions accordingly.
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Booking/cancellation policy: I need a minimum of 8 people to cover costs and go a-head with this workshop series, you will be given advanced warning is the class needs to be cancelled and offered the option to transfer your place to a future workshop or receive a refund. Once you have booked a place, if you are no longer able attend you will be given the option to transfer to a future class but a refund will not be possible.
