From a fairly early age, I have read books on nature: The Sand County Almanac, The Outermost House (my belovèd favourite) the works of Richard Jeffries. Currently, I am on the more scientific writings of Alexander von Humboldt. I find nature writing to be more than poetry and more than fantasy for the armchair hiker. It is an effort to describe, understand and communicate about the world that surrounds us as well as inhabits us, and dominates us while we humans think we are taming it. At its best, nature writing is philosophy written with a great and beautiful style; it helps us to see the patterns of which our species is a single thread.
In my own work of nature writing for children, I have attempted to use the observation of detail that is inherent in all nature writing as an avenue to the way that small children see things in close-up, as it were. By describing nature as they see it, without condescension, more with adult collaboration, my books communicate that a love of nature -- in an increasingly unnatural world -- is both normal and healthy.
Ron Harton's website, www.naturewriting.com, is his personal project, a dedication to bringing together those writing about nature in English today. On his website, he discusses nature writing, has many lovely examples of nature journals and essays, poetry, short stories and quotes. He writes his own blog on the subject. He gives connections and sources for nature writers, ideas, and books. I am deeply honoured that he has included The Big Field: a Child's Year Under the Southern Cross in his list of books. Please do visit his website to read the wonderful contributions of some of today's best nature writers.
©2010 Anne Morddel
Seasons South and North
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