50 WAYS TO BE CREATIVE IN NATURE
Ideas to try whilst out enjoying time in nature!
Nature is an endless source of inspiration. It offers opportunities to spark our creativity, find those glimmer moments of joy, and nurture our wellbeing.
Being creative in nature helps reduce stress, boost our mood, enhances our connection with nature, and ultimately helps the health of the planet. It’s also a simple way to foster mindfulness and find inspiration in everyday moments. Whether you have hours to explore or just a few moments, here are 50 creative ways to help you infuse your life with the joy and beauty found in nature.
1
Share a personal story with friends and family, inspired by what you’ve discovered or love about nature.
NATURE
STORYTELLING
2
Cultivate your own little garden and watch it flourish under your care. Use pollinator-friendly plants to support bees & butterflies.
GROW OR
MAKE YOUR
OWN GARDEN
5
Experiment with paint blobbing to make abstract nature-inspired art.
​
PAINT
BLOBBING
6
Let the wind inspire you to appreciate the beauty in every breeze. Go for a walk on a windy day and embrace the movement.
CELEBRATE
THE
WIND
9
Curate a nature-inspired playlist of songs that you can enjoy listening to outdoors.
CREATE A
PLAYLIST
FOR NATURE
13
Grab your phone camera and go on a nature photography walk. Capture the textures, patterns, and colours you find.
EVERYDAY
NATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY
10
Collect local blooms and create a floral arrangement to brighten your space.
ARRANGE
SOMEÂ
FLOWERS
14
Need to move?
Dance to a playlist of your favourite songs in a woodland setting.
MOVE
IN THE
FOREST
17
Take a refreshing dip in a natural body of water (remember to be safe!).​
WILD
SWIMMING
18
Spend some quiet time, observing your surroundings in a favourite outdoor spot.
Try doing nothing for
30 minutes.
FOREST
BATHING
21
Sculpt something inspired by natural shapes and textures.
MAKE
SOMETHING
WITH CLAY
22
Celebrate the current season by curating a display of natural finds to display at home.
CREATE A
SEASONAL
DISPLAY
25
Plant a sunflower and watch as it reaches for the sky.
GROW A
SUNFLOWER
26
Record your observations, experiences,
and reflections about nature in a sketchbook.
START
AÂ NATURE
JOURNAL
29
Take a walk with the sole purpose of noticing as
many details as possible.
NOTICE
NATURE WALK
30
Harvest seeds from wildflowers to replant
next year.
COLLECT
FLOWER SEEDS
33
Document plants, animals, or interesting phenomena you’ve observed.
PUT
TOGETHER
FIELD NOTES
34
Preserve flowers and leaves by pressing them between heavy books.
FLOWER
AND LEAF
PRESSING
37
Spend an evening under the stars, appreciating the vastness of the sky.
GO
STARGAZING
38
Practice yoga among the trees for a grounding experience.
FOREST
YOGA
41
Bring your easel outside and let the landscape inspire you.
En plein air.
OUTDOOR
PAINTING
42
Stack stones as a meditative and creative practice. Perfect for trying at the beach.
ROCK
BALANCING
45
Look for small moments of joy that catch your eye, like sunlight on leaves, a rainbow, or a deer grazing nearby.
GLIMMER
HUNTING
49
Jot down everything you notice during a moment in nature.
WRITE
WHAT YOU SEE
46
Take a notebook outside
and just let your
imagination flow.
CREATIVE WRITING
IN THE WILD
50
Lie on your back, watch
the clouds, and let your thoughts drift.
BLUE SKY
MEDITATION
3
Create a colour palette inspired by the different colours you find in nature.
NATURE
PALETTES
4
Celebrate summer's bounty with an outdoor feast and invite friends and family. Use seasonal produce if you can.
HOST A
MIDSUMMER
FEAST
7
Immerse yourself in the
power of words by reading a nature-themed book or
poetry outside.
READ A
NATURE BOOK
OR POETRY
8
Choose a tree near you
to observe, sketch, and
learn about throughout the seasons.
GET TO
KNOW A
TREE
11
Listen to the birds in your local area and use the Merlin app
to identify their songs.
IDENTIFY THE BIRDS YOUR HEAR
12
Create a checklist of natural items to find on a walk.
GO ON A
SCAVENGER
HUNT
15
Use photographs, drawings, or pressed flowers to design postcards inspired by nature.
NATURE
POSTCARDS
16
Embrace the rain,
noticing how it changes
the sights, sounds, and
smells around you.
GO FOR A
WALK
IN THE RAIN
19
Arrange natural items like leaves and stones into a circular, meditative design.
CREATE
A NATURE
MANDALA
20
Put pen to paper and craft a poem inspired by your experiences and reflections
in nature.
WRITEÂ
NATURE
POETRY
23
Go on a fruit-picking walk during harvest season to find blackberries, brambles and raspberries.
GO FRUIT
PICKING
24
Combine items you’ve gathered outdoors into a creative collage.
MAKE
A NATURE
COLLAGE
27
Walk barefoot on grass or sand to feel grounded and connected.
BAREFOOT
WALKING
28
Sit quietly and map the
sounds around you, like the rustling leaves and chirping birds in the trees.
CREATE A
SOUNDSCAPE
31
Write down what you’re grateful for in nature
each day.
START
A GRATITUDE
JOURNAL
35
Use foraged herbs such
as wild mint and fennel to create a comforting and
natural brew.
MAKE
HERBAL TEA
32
Gather small natural treasures like shells, feathers, or stones in a keepsake box.
CREATE
A BOX
OF THINGS
36
Decorate stones with designs inspired by nature.
ROCK
PAINTING
39
Listen to natural sounds
while painting your interpretation of them.
PAINT TO
NATURE'S
MUSIC
40
Visit the sea, or listen to recorded ocean sounds to unwind.
LISTEN
TO THE
OCEAN
43
Sketch patterns and
designs inspired by your surroundings.
NATURE
DOODLING
44
Collect items like driftwood
or shells and use them to create art.
BEACHCOMBE
FOR ART
47
Draw a tree and mark daily weather conditions with colours or symbols in the shape of leaves.
CREATE
A WEATHER
TREE
48
Use crayons or pencils to capture the textures of leaves or tree bark.
LEAF OR
BARK
RUBBING
