Draw from nature

If you want to forge a deeper connection with nature, try drawing it. Drawing forces us to stop and really look. It helps us to see what’s around us. So often as adults we look at a landscape with a wide-angle gaze, and when we try to capture it in a photograph, the convenience and speed of a smartphone can stop us experiencing it for ourselves. Drawing helps us to narrow our focus and appreciate the extraordinary details that are often overlooked or even more interesting than the entire scene. All you need is pencil and paper. It is a calming activity, improves brain function and creativity and releases dopamine, which makes us buzz with happiness.