What is Nature Awareness?
Awareness is a key ability which underpins many
other skills. It refers to the state of being focused on the present and noticing what is going on around us in
great detail.
Nature Awareness includes a knowledge of local wildlife and
ecology, but also incorporates keeping all the senses swithched on in order to read the landscape, interpret
bird calls, move carefully and walk respectfully.
When our senses are peaked the landscape, environment and
wildlife speak to us; we are able to understand what is going on around us and act accordingly.
In this way - we are able to gather materials from the woods
without causing ecological damage, or we are able to track and get close to wildlife without disturbing it.
This is a state which instinctively calls to us through thousands
of years of human evolution - it is why we like sitting round a fire, gazing at the stars or watching birds
Not only is it useful - it's also really fun to develop.
It feels good to get on our hands and knees looking for tracks, watch deer or baby foxes or silently sneak through the trees!
There are many games and activities which allow us to practice
through playing, but over time develop the senses and train the mind to tune in and take notice.
