Nature Journaling at Dyrham Park

As national trust members, we often go on days out to various stately homes and gardens. Dyrham Park is a wonderful National Trust property in South Gloucestershire and is one of our favourite places to visit. It has a beautiful walk down hills to the house and gardens and has herds of deer inhabiting the grounds.

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon so I decided it would be a great opportunity for a spot of nature journaling. We packed up our nature journals and paints and headed to Dyhram Park. To read more about nature journaling you can take a look at this post.

I was surprised to see herds of cattle roaming the grounds instead of the usual deer. However, there was a sign up near the entrance stating that they often get in herds of cattle during the summer to help maintain the grounds.

As we reached the bottom of the hill, the children spotted a tree perfect for climbing. I sat down on the grass and let them explore for a while.

Then we headed past the house and into the gardens which were full of blooms of all different shapes and colours. We walked past a pond and the children spotted some ducks and dragonflies.

We walked around looking at each flower and deciding which to paint. There were so many to choose from.

We settled by the lake and took out our nature journals.

D decided to paint this flower.

I chose this one.

We spotted a bee collecting nectar.

R also decided to paint.

Halfway through the painting.

Here is D's finished painting.

R's painting.

Here is my first nature journal entry. Unfortunately, I have no idea what kind of flowers these are so if you are able to identify them, please let me know! Have you been nature journaling recently?