The more I work on my ‘Drawing Nature In’ project, the more I am enjoying it. My understanding has also deepened as to why I am creating this project. I love the whole process. Lockdown has truly helped me to slow down and reconnect with my passions, showing a pathway for my work. Work that I hope will inspire more children to go outdoors and create continuing, flourishing, relationships between humans and nature.
It is widely known that being outdoors in nature benefits our mental wellbeing as well as our physical wellbeing. But I feel that it is so especially important for children to experience the wilderness. It offers and instills calmness, patience, understanding, empathy and so much more. The chance for little minds to realise sensations and what makes them tick – without the distractions of the modern world. A chance to be unique and individual with no preconception of how, who and what they should be.
The Whiting’s from North Suffolk, UK
The Whiting family know exactly this and absorb themselves in nature. They are good friends and I illustrated Oliver (12) and Flora (10) way before I realised or even knew what I wanted to achieve with this project. Helen and Christian (mum and dad) have such a great knowledge of caring for wildlife and this has definitely inspired their children to do the same.
I am fortunate to have been friends with Helen for a number of years, meeting her when Oliver and my son started reception class together. She is such a lovely person, but to be honest I was never quite sure what her job entailed, mainly because I never knew much about such jobs. But, my goodness, what an important role Helen and Christian have – especially now.
They are a small family run ecological consultancy operating from the Waveney valley. Although they work all over East Anglia, most of their projects are focused in the East and mid Suffolk areas. Providing professional services and advice to both the public and private sector. They undertake surveys, write reports and provide on site mitigation in relation to notable and protected wildlife species and habitats. You can find out more by visiting their website www.mhe-consulting.co.uk.
For the love of wildlife
Ecologists study the relationship between plants, animals and the environment. Working to keep or improve the conditions for all. It can be a gratifying, but also a heartbreaking job. And hearing views from well informed people about animal habitats and how humans are destroying them, does make me feel rather helpless. Especially when you realise what ecologists do to keep wildlife species from losing their habitats – in such situations as to make space for new building plots and roads, for example. Sadly it is not the choice of the wildlife species whether they move or not. But if they have to, Helen and Christian ensure their safety. And if they don’t have to, they ensure that their habitats are continued to be cared for correctly.
Helen and Christian became ecologists for the love of wildlife and to help protect it. But sometimes pressures from many external sources can sometimes make it feel like they are helping humans intrude into nature. This is definitely not their aim – on the contrary – they are the voices of the wildlife that can’t fight for their own home on the Earth. As Helen says:
“We are really fortunate to work in some fantastic locations, seeing the best of British wildlife. The thing that makes me keep wanting to do what we do is when we’ve been able to make a positive difference. Whether it be saving individual animals from harm, or securing different more beneficial outcomes than might have occurred without our input.”
Thank you to the Whiting’s for being part of this project xx
You can also join me on this journey
The families that I am going to be highlighting in my blog posts and the children that I am including in my ‘Drawing Nature In’ project, all have one thing in common. They all love and see the benefit of the wilderness. I will be sharing Oliver and Flora’s illustrations and stories in my journal soon. And I am already working on a new illustration with another waiting in the wings. If you would like to be kept informed, you can sign up to my mailing list here. Equally, if you feel a connection with this project, and/or are a family who love the outdoors, I would love to hear from you. My dream is to create a story book full of children from all over the UK or the World and to ignite a longing for wilderness.
Warm wishes
Juliana x