Belsoc member, Terri Hegland writes:
Heath Hands arranges many activities, among which is Nature Journaling, led by Shilpa. This is not just about drawing; it spans far greater realms than this. Shilpa asks to stop, look…. look very closely. She steps us through a library of simple ways to draw an image. It could be an outline, the shape or a texture. But for me, the most exciting concept she instils is to describe what I am seeing by written description, it may evoke a memory or a story. This has made me see a hidden beauty of the things that caught my eye.
Drawing a cypress tree in the Pinetum transported me to my fondest of memories in Athens, as they covered the mountain tops to create a stunning, pointed silhouette. I even felt warm in the memory while a little robin bounced around the tree like bubbles, and all of these thoughts brought me such joy.
I was able to dive deep into details for a horse-chestnut husk and appreciate its truly delicate nature as a drawn image. It has such a captivating structure for something so small. I asked Shilpa how she was able to communicate this quality of observation, and she told me she is an engineer, so her ability to see the power of each standing form on the Heath is her hidden talent.
I was able to dive deep into details for a horse-chestnut husk and appreciate its truly delicate nature as a drawn image. It has such a captivating structure for something so small. I asked Shilpa how she was able to communicate this quality of observation, and she told me she is an engineer, so her ability to see the power of each standing form on the Heath is her hidden talent.
We not only were asked to grasp the static wonders of the Heath, but also to totally enjoy drawing the movement of ducks in the pond at Golders Hill Park. Not looking at the page, my hand wondered to capture their movement, revealing a series of lines that raced across the page, an aspect of drawing that I was thrilled to recreate.
This engaging process put me in front of a vista from The Dairy as well as the intriguing Dairy building itself from the back, recording two memorable pieces. On these journeys, I have been able to capture images that I may have usually walked by or wished I could keep it forever. I have become more engaged with the Heath through imaging, but mostly more sensitive to the intricacies of all the glorious life forms that live there.
An experience you should not miss!
Heath Hands also runs volunteer drops- ins but programmed activities need booking. For further dates for Nature Journaling and other activities check out the Heath Hands website: http://www.heath-hands.org.uk/
