Why Should You Record the Changing Seasons?
One of the most rewarding parts of keeping a nature journal is learning to notice the small changes that mark the passing of the year.
A flower opening for the first time, blackberries beginning to ripen, swallows gathering before migration or the first cool morning after weeks of summer warmth are all signs that the seasons are changing. Recording these observations creates a personal history of the landscape where you live and helps you recognise patterns that repeat year after year.
What Is Phenology?
Phenology is the study of recurring seasonal events in nature and the timing of those events throughout the year.
Examples of phenology include:
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the first snowdrops flowering in late winter
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hawthorn coming into bloom in spring
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swallows returning from migration
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blackberries ripening in late summer
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leaves changing colour in autumn
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fungi appearing after periods of autumn rain
Scientists use phenology to understand how plants, animals and seasonal events respond to weather and climate. Nature lovers use it to become more aware of the changing year.
Is a Nature Journal the Same as a Phenology Journal?
Not exactly.
A nature journal records everything you notice outdoors, including sketches, wildlife sightings, weather, plants, landscapes, thoughts and seasonal observations.
A phenology journal focuses specifically on recording recurring natural events and when they happen each year.
Many people combine both approaches, making notes about wildlife, flowers, weather and the changing seasons in a single journal.
What Seasonal Changes Should You Record in Late Summer?
Late summer is one of the richest times of year for seasonal observation.
You might record:
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the first ripe blackberries or bilberries
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elderberries changing from green to deep purple
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heather flowering across the moor
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dragonflies hunting over ponds
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butterflies feeding on late nectar
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swallows gathering before their autumn migration
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harvest fields turning from green to gold
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heavy morning dew and cooler evenings
Even small observations become valuable when recorded over several years.
How Did People Observe the Seasons in the Past?
Long before the word phenology existed, people carefully observed the natural world.
Farmers watched the flowering of plants to guide sowing and harvesting. Herbalists knew when medicinal plants reached their peak. Country people noticed the arrival of migratory birds, the ripening of hedgerow fruits and the first signs of autumn because these events shaped everyday life.
Many traditional customs, weather sayings and pieces of British folklore developed from generations of careful seasonal observation. Paying attention to nature was not simply an interest—it was part of living well alongside the land.
Why Keep a Nature Journal Every Year?
Nature never repeats itself in exactly the same way.
One August may bring early blackberries and dry, sun-baked grass, while another arrives with abundant fungi after weeks of rain. Recording these differences helps you build a deeper understanding of your local landscape and the changing rhythm of the seasons.
Over time, your journal becomes more than a notebook. It becomes a record of the wildlife, plants, weather and seasonal traditions that make your corner of Britain unique.
At Hedgerow & Moor, these observations are at the heart of every Almanac. Each month begins with the same question: What is happening in the landscape right now? From that question grows the folklore, plant lore, artwork and seasonal stories that fill every edition.