castle wild | 9th to 12th June 2025

castle wild
Nature Journaling
Retreat

Are you a creative person who loves spending time in nature?
Looking to try out a wider range of artistic techniques and increase your UK species knowledge?
Want to enjoy learning some painting and identification skills out in a wild location?

Join us for a few days nature journaling a rewilding campsite in Norfolk, UK, together with a supportive group. Tuition by nature journaling educator and artist Alex Boon, joined by local nature experts.

The location? The beautiful Castle Wild Camp, a 60-acre rewilding site in rural Norfolk. Get the full wild camping experience, sleep beneath the stars and wake up to birdsong, but with hot water and facilities and a great pub nearby.

Limited to 10 places

What can you expect?

***PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE***

MONDAY 9TH JUNE: ARRIVAL AND INTRODUCTION

Arrival from 5 PM. Get your tents pitched and find a space for yourselves, take a moment to explore and chill out.

An evening BBQ will be fired up, bring your own meat, fish, or vegetables. Salads, breads, and side dishes provided but bring anything you definitely want.

Get to know each other over a meal followed by an introduction session, a tour of the grounds, and time to settle in and relax.

TUESDAY 10TH JUNE

Introduction to nature journaling session followed by splitting of group into two. Group 1: a bird ringing demonstration by the local bird ringing team*. Group 2: Pond dipping and aquatic life identification session.
 

Packed lunch provided. After lunch: Bird-focused identification panel followed by some nature journaling practice time with further tuition by Alex. A slow nature walk through the Baconsthorpe Castle site to the pub.

Tuesday night – dinner at the local pub after the beautiful nature journaling walk. This meal is not included in the retreat price, each will pay separately.

 

*bird ringing will only take place in fine weather to avoid any harm to subjects. In poor weather, an alternative activity will be offered.

 

***PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE***

WEDNESDAY 11TH JUNE

Morning botany session with a botany expert. Learn to use the Francis Rose Wildflower Key and improve your botanical identification skills. How to use your nature journal to gather vital ID information about plants in the field.

Picnic lunch (included in retreat price)

Afternoon outdoor painting session with Alex. Using Derwent Inktense pencils outside. Incorporating landscapes into our nature journals.

Dinner (included in retreat price): Poke bowl. Campfire and dusk excursions to the hide in pairs to hopefully see the barn owls and other night-time wildlife.

THURSDAY 12TH JUNE

Final morning of nature journaling on site. You are free to continue to nature journal as we pack away. 

Time to reflect and share our work as a group. Final packed lunch (included in retreat price) before we make our way home. Please leave the site by 2PM.

Your questions answered

Do I need to have any experience?

No, this retreat is suitable for complete beginners or those with an existing nature journaling practice. All you need is a passion for nature and creativity and a willingness to get close to nature through outdoor exploration. People who have experience in art, writing, or naturalism separately but have not combined these, or people wishing to try something new are very much welcome. Art beginners especially welcome, you do not need to be able to draw or paint already to enjoy nature journaling.

What will I need?

Bring comfortable outdoor clothing suited to the weather forecast and suitable footwear (hiking boots recommended). Ticks may be present onsite so breathable long trousers and tops are recommended. Suncream and insect repellent advised! All art materials and sketchbooks are provided although you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.

What about food?

Please bring your own breakfast. A BBQ (bring your own meat/fish/veg) will be laid on for the first night. All lunches are included in the retreat price and will comprise a sandwich lunch from the local pub. Menus will be sent around before the retreat. The Tuesday night dinner is a meal at the local pub and is not included in the retreat price (please pay for your own food and drinks). On Wednesday, a poke bowl meal will be laid on, and is included in the retreat price. Details of the menu selection will be sent to all participants before the retreat. Please bring your own other snacks and drinks.

Tell me about the on-site accommodation options?

A far cry from the standard mown grass camping experience, Castle Wild Camp offer peaceful and family-friendly camping within private and secluded glades, surrounded by wildflowers and birdsong, with a brazier provided to toast marshmallows on. For any of you who don’t want to pitch, Castle Wild Camp can offer a woodland cabin and a beautifully converted bus. Please contact them separately to arrange this upgrade. You may also stay offsite if preferred, which must be arranged yourself. There is no refund of the wild camping price if you take this option.

Any other questions? Email me via alex@alexboonart.com and I will do my best to help you.

About the tutor

Alex Boon

Alex Boon is an artist and nature journaling educator from East Devon, UK. He achieved a PhD in environmental science before working in postdoctoral research and scientific communication roles. Alex left academia, moved to the rural West Country, and started his first nature journal in 2016. 

He now teaches both online and in person workshops and courses and is active on YouTube and Instagram. His focus is making nature journaling encouraging and welcoming for anybody who wants to try it, an ethos he maintains in his Nature Journaling Circle online school and community.

Book your place now

Looking forward to seeing you for an exciting outdoor nature journaling weekend in Norfolk this summer. You have the option of paying the full amount now or the deposit only. Please arrange any accommodation upgrades (see above) separately with Castle Wild Camp.

Please note: Payment for the retreat is by either full amount including deposit or deposit only. the £100 deposit is non-refundable. if there is a major reason you cannot join us, email me and the £100 will be offered as credit for a future course or retreat. in the event of cancellation our side, a full refund will be offered or transfer to a future event. thank you!

Payment Option

Full amount – £350 (includes non-refundable £100 deposit), Pay deposit of £100 (£250 balance to be paid later)

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