Prompted by Nature

Action point: Earth Hero app.  Download the app via your app store or go to their website for more information: https://www.earthhero.org/app/ A little apology for the tardiness of this episode.  I was hit by a car whilst cycling to work last Thursday and it pushed everything back a bit.  I’m ok with thankfully just bumps and bruises to recover from and the only thing that broke was...

In this prompt, I invite you to consider Catherine's thoughts on creatives as visionaries, something she speaks about in the main episode.  Consider a future you want to see, what part might you play in that?  Where is nature and how do we embrace and protect her?  What would happen is humans 'got it right'?   If creating a future society feels a bit much for you, perhaps keep...

Welcome to series 5, episode 4 of the Prompted by Nature podcast. Action point:  Pop over to https://unfccc.int/ and https://www.cop27.eg/#/ to find out about the COP27 conference.  Also follow @mikaelaloach on Instagram or Twitter if you don't already, as she has been at the conference, both attending and presenting. Catherine is a ceramic artist based in West Cornwall specialising in R...

In this prompt, I introduce you to the Intentional Creativity workbook that I've created inspired by my chat with Eleanor.  You can download the workbook via my Substack newsletter - https://promptedbynature.substack.com - by visiting my website www.promptedbynature.co.uk where you can find the link. Let me know how you get on and what you create if you use it. Helen x @prompted.by.nature ---...

Welcome to series 5, episode 3 of the Prompted by Nature podcast. Action point: Contact your MP about standing up for nature, whether that be asking them to speak out against fracking, reading the state of nature report and asking them what they’re doing to support the transition to renewable energy, or the move away from fossil fuels. Here in the UK you can contact you MP or local councillor thro...

In this writing prompt I invite you to write with water.  You will need to be in a quiet space in which you feel comfortable to take some time for yourself.  We begin with a short breathing practice to get you feeling a little more relaxed and to help release off any tension. You will then hear a soundtrack of a stream running through a forest.  This last for about 10 minutes. &nbsp...

Welcome to series 5, episode 2 of the Prompted by Nature podcast. Action point: Find out more about the Right to Roam campaign www.righttoroam.org.uk that Amy speaks about. Amy-Jane Beer is a biologist and nature writer. She earned a doctorate studying sea urchins before swapping the microscope for a keyboard. She was editor of Wildlife of Britain magazine, and of Wildlife World magazine for the P...

In this writing prompt, we explore the ideas conjured up by Bryony in her interview around gaze and using our creativity to interpret nature.  The prompt questions I ask are: What’s your earliest memory of nature? What part has that played in how you see nature? What landscapes are you most drawn to in your creative practice? How do you feel when you encounter nature and how might that influe...

Welcome to series 5, episode 1 of the Prompted by Nature podcast! Action point: Go to RSPB, Wildlife Trust and sign the petition/email your MP regarding the changes in law regarding: Lifting the ban on fracking in England Removing important laws that protect nature Considering scrapping plans to reward farmers for managing land in a nature-friendly way https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-ne...

In this prompt, I use Jackee's beautiful writing maps for inspiration.  We look at the prompt, 'bark mask' and the directions we could go in in writing using this title.  I read the extract from the 'Writing with Fabulous Trees' map and share thoughts on how you might use this in your own writing. Some ideas: 'Writing about ways in which surfaces protect us...about your own or your chara...

Welcome to series 4, episode 13 of the Prompted by Nature podcast. So today is the final episode of the pod before I take a little break for the summer. Today’s action point: Stop Jackdaw campaign are organising a week of action to push back against the approval of the Jackdaw gas field. All information about the week can be found on their website www.stopcambo.org . Today, I’m speaking with the i...

In this prompt, I encourage you to try something new - painting, sculpting, writing, sewing!  Life is about variety and we can nourish our creatives selves by trying out lots of different things, something Soraya spoke of in the conversation. Let me know what you try and how it helps you in your main creative practice. Happy creating! Helen x

Action point: All the Elements, the CIC founded by today's guest. Go to alltheelements.co and have a look around at their resources pages, the directory and everything they’re doing and have coming up. You can also find them on Instagram and Twitter @alltheelements_ Today I’m speaking with Soraya Abdel-Hadi. Soraya is a powerhouse of creativity.  She is an award-winning writer, artist, and ad...

In this prompt I invite you to go on a walk in your local area and do what I’m calling a ‘prompt per minute’ activity.  In the conversation, Annabel talked about ‘walking deep’ and this prompt encourages you to have a go at this whilst using it as a source of creative inspiration. Instructions: Go on a *slow* walk in your local area, for around 20 minutes if you can - remember to take a noteb...

Action point:  www.accessiblecountryside.org.uk A fantastic resource for those with mobility considerations in the UK.  Gives a comprehensive range of maps to accessible routes around the UK countryside.  Definitely pop over there and have an explore and pass it on to anyone you think might find it useful. On to the episode!  Annabel Abbs is a writer of fiction and nonfiction a...

I absolutely love the Land Art Agency tagline, 'restoring the earth through the arts' - so much so that I thought I'd use it as a starting point for the writing prompt for this episode! In this episode I give you some ideas as to how to might approach this.  Remember to check my social media feeds for the bullet journal prompt that accompanies this episode as there will likely be fresh inspir...

Welcome to series 4 episode 10 of the Prompted by Nature podcast. Action point for this week: Join the #stopEAcop campaign, which is calling on global insurance broker, Marsh, drop the east african crude oil pipeline. You can find all the information on their website https://www.stopeacop.net/home They are having a day of online action on Tuesday 28th June.  Go to the series 4 episode 10 post...

For this prompt, you are invited to ‘look to see,’ something Hannah speak about in the episode. I talk you through some ideas for what to do on a walk to you local green space or favourite natural spot, such as breathing and allowing your breath to bring you back into the present and looking at what’s around you with the aiming of ‘seeing.’ Some recommended guided meditations from previous writing...

Welcome to series 4, episode 9 of the Prompted by Nature podcast. Today's action point:  Visit Hannah's website to find information and resources for connecting and protecting nature on your doorstep:   www.hannahbournetaylor.com/resources Today I speak with writer and nature advocate, Hannah Bourne-Taylor.  After careers in both equine photography and copy-writing in the branding i...

In this writing prompt I invite you to get to know the species in your local area who might be on the conservation amber or red lists, or who may at threat of endangerment.  I go through the list of species that Sophie covers in her book, Forget-Me-Not, and offer up the possibility of using these animals as creative prompts for your own work. I also share a mindfulness practice that I like to...

Welcome to series 4, episode 8 of the Prompted by Nature podcast! This week I’m thrilled to release my conversation with the lovely Sophie Pavelle, a Science Communicator, writer, and part of the Beaver Trust team. I came across Sophie a few years ago and have been wanting to get her on the podcast for a while. I love her creativity and the sense of fun that she brings to potentially challenging t...

In this writing prompt, I read a short extract of Ben's latest novel, The Perfect Golden Circle (pg 28) to get our creative juices flowing.  This prompt is all about seeing and feeling the heartbeat of the landscape around you - whether that's hills and mountains, the sea, or even a concrete jungle.  Nature is everywhere, sometimes we just need to look a little harder to find it. A few i...

Welcome to Series 4, episode 7 of Prompted by Nature.  This week I have the privilege of releasing my conversation with writer Benjamin Myers.  Ben Myers is a writer and journalist from Durham in the north of England.  I’ll let him introduce himself but his writing awards and accolades are intimidating - though well-deserved! - and his novel Gallow’s Pole is about to be released as...

In this prompt I give you four words to get you started on a creative piece.  I hope you enjoy it!  Remember to share anything you create with me either via my website www.promptedbynature.co.uk or on insta @prompted.by.nature Happy writing! Helen x

Today's guest is Georgia Wyatt-Lovell an artist, creative and the founder of Wyatt and Jack, a business that turns UK-sourced broken inflatables and deck chairs into the most beautiful bags! Georgia studied ceramics at Chelsea School of Art before continuing her studies at Swansea uni. As we’ll hear, she started Wyatt and Jack when she found out what happened to deck chair fabrics and got inspired...