Nature writing is a powerful literary genre that bridges the human spirit with the wonders of the natural world. By using vivid descriptions, personal reflections and ecological insights, nature writers bring landscapes, wildlife, and the environment to life on the page. This unique form of writing captures the intricate beauty of our planet, inspiring readers to appreciate and protect the world around them.

The history of nature writing

Nature writing has a rich history that spans centuries, with roots in ancient traditions. Early storytelling traditions, such as indigenous oral stories and mythologies, often included elements of the natural world, reflecting humanity’s deep connection to the environment. In Western literature, the genre gained prominence during the Romantic era of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Some nature writers, including Henry David Thoreau (Walden), explore themes of solitude, simplicity and the human relationship with nature. Romanticists William Wordsworth (I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud) and John Clare (The Rural Muse) focussed on the English countryside through poetry, while naturalists Rachel Carson (Silent Spring) and Gerald Durrell (My Family and Other Animals) brought attention to environmental issues. Their works remain influential, offering both artistic beauty and ecological advocacy.

What makes nature writing unique?

Immersive descriptions

Nature writing excels at painting vivid pictures with words. Readers can feel the crunch of leaves underfoot, hear the distant call of a bird or smell the earth after rain—all through carefully crafted prose.

Personal connection

This genre often combines keen observation with deep introspection. Writers reflect on their experiences in nature, exploring universal themes like life, death, solitude, and renewal. These personal insights make the writing relatable and impactful.

Environmental awareness

Modern nature writing frequently addresses urgent issues like climate change, deforestation, and wildlife conservation. Authors use their stories to educate and motivate readers, blending artful prose with activism.

Why nature writing matters today

In an age of technology and city living, many people feel increasingly disconnected from nature. Spending time outdoors or even reading about the natural world can reduce stress, spark creativity and inspire mindfulness. Nature writing provides a gateway to these benefits, allowing readers to experience the outdoors vicariously.

Nature writing also serves as a critical tool for raising awareness about environmental challenges. By illustrating the beauty and fragility of ecosystems, nature writers encourage readers to act, whether by supporting conservation efforts or making more sustainable lifestyle choices.

Structuring non-fiction with Nick Acheson

Nick Acheson is an author, conservationist and environmentalist living in North Norfolk. He has written for BBC Wildlife, British Birds, British Wildlife, The Guardian, The Big Issue, BTO News, The Countryman and numerous other publications. His book The Meaning of Geese was published in February 2023, and was awarded the East Anglian Book of the Year 2023.

Travel writing and nature writing are intrinsically linked, too; offering the opportunity to vividly capture the landscapes, wildlife and natural phenomena unique to a place, and inspiring travellers to explore beyond conventional attractions. The genre deepens travellers’ appreciation of the environment, fostering sustainable tourism practices and a connection to the planet’s diversity, and gels perfectly with travel writing trends and practices.

Through descriptive narratives and environmental insights, nature writing acts as a bridge, helping international readers understand the cultural significance of natural landmarks while promoting eco-consciousness and global stewardship.

How to get started with nature writing

If you’re inspired to try nature writing yourself, here are some tips:

Spend time observing nature

Take a notebook or your phone outdoors and document your surroundings. Focus on details like colours, textures, sounds, and smells to make your writing vivid and engaging.

Combine research with emotion

To create compelling content, blend your personal observations with factual knowledge. Whether it’s the lifecycle of a butterfly or the history of a forest, adding depth makes your writing more impactful.

Find your unique voice

What draws you to nature? Your unique perspective—whether it’s a love of hiking, birdwatching or gardening—can shape your writing and help you connect with readers.

Practice regularly

Like any skill, nature writing improves with practice. Dedicate time to write about your experiences in nature, even if it’s just a few sentences a day.

Writing through place: Heidi Williamson & Rebecca Goss on poetry, memory and healing

Poets Heidi Williamson and Rebecca Goss discuss the moments they knew they were ready to write about their past experiences, and the power that comes from giving yourself permission to feel the happiness alongside the pain when writing about difficult moments in their lives.

They also explore the importance of drawing from memories of landscape and place, the power of quietness in poetry, and how researching for writing may initially feel inauthentic but is actually a powerful tool for building depth.

The role of nature writing in conservation

Nature writing is more than a literary pursuit—it’s a form of activism. By capturing the essence of the natural world, writers give voice to the environment and its challenges. From climate change to habitat destruction, these stories highlight the urgent need for conservation and encourage readers to become advocates for the planet.

Writing a Biography with Patrick Barkham

In this episode of The Writing Life, Patrick Barkham  discusses the process of writing his book The Swimmer, and how he found ways to ‘hear’ the voice of an author whose work he knew well, but who he never met.

Hear from Patrick on the ethics of biography, the process of writing his book and how he found ways to ‘hear’ the voice of an author he never met

Patrick Barkham is an award-winning author and natural history writer for the Guardian. His books include The Butterfly Isles, Badgerlands, Islander and Wild Child. He is President of Norfolk Wildlife Trust and lives in Norfolk with his family.

Edited by Omni Mix

The lasting power of nature writing

Nature writing is an art form that connects people with the environment through words. It reminds us of the beauty, complexity and importance of the natural world while fostering mindfulness and advocacy. Whether you’re looking for a creative outlet, a deeper connection to nature or a way to inspire others, nature writing is a fulfilling and impactful pursuit.

As the challenges facing our planet grow, the need for nature-inspired stories becomes ever more crucial. Through the timeless practice of nature writing, we can rediscover our place in the world and inspire others to cherish and protect it.

NCW Recommends: Nature writing

Peggy Hughes, National Centre for Writing CEO, recommends her top six nature writing books:

Thin Places by Kerri ní Dochartaigh

Shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for nature writing, Thin Places is an exploration of how nature is essential for mental health, told through Kerri’s own experiences during the Troubles in Ireland. With bombs going off and a family torn in half, this book finds solace and healing in nature.

Uprooting by Marchelle Farrell

‘From the Caribbean to the Countryside – Finding Home in an English Country Garden’

Shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize and a Countryfile Christmas gift book, this memoir explores the concept of home through gardens. Through themes of race, colonialism, homesickness, therapy and the pandemic, this book is raw, tender and beautiful.

The Abundance by Annie Dillard 

Exploring the micro and macro wonders of the natural world, The Abundance explores the fragility of nature through the emotions it evokes. Meditative and richly descriptive, poetic and philosophical, Annie Dillard’s work comfortably sits among the works of the great American writers.

Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

Winner of the Wainwright Prize 2021, winner of the Royal Society Prize 2021 and shortlisted for the British Book Awards Non-Fiction Narrative Book of the Year 2021, this book is about the wonders of fungus. Through history, medicine and science, Entangled Life is beautifully written and illustrated, described as ‘a sensory as well as an intellectual pleasure.’ – New Statesman

This too is a glistening by Pratyusha, Jessica J. Lee, Alycia Pirmohamed & Nina Mingya Powles

Poetic, diaristic and prosaic, this collection is a collaborative experiment in nature writing. Exploring current events, friendship, migration and climate change, This too is a glistening has been described by  as ‘deeply moving’.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

‘Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants’

A botanist by trade, Robin Wall Kimmerer delves deep into her experiences as scientist, woman and mother – all pulling from her being a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, including ecological responsibility, conservation, tradition and living in harmony with nature.