Drawn to the Moors

Put Down Your Phone and Pick Up a Pencil!

There’s so much to see in the beautiful and varied Peak District National Park, with striking gritstone edges, wild moorland plateaus, peaceful reservoirs and dramatic limestone dales. And yet, increasingly, we only look at the beauty briefly, through the lens of our phone. We think we look but we don’t really see. That’s why it’s time to put down our phones and pick up a pencil. Green sketching is a wonderful way to relax, reconnect with nature and see the Peak District with fresh eyes. This booklet will help you get started by guiding you through a range of simple sketching activities that are suitable for all ages and abilities. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be artistic! Green sketching is all about seeing, not drawing. It’s the process of sketching that helps us unplug, unwind and tune into our surroundings. It’s the process of sketching that helps us notice beauty, joy and wonder we’d otherwise miss. The quality of our artwork is irrelevant.

Doodle In Your Own Way

You can use this booklet however you like. Work through it steadily or pick and choose whichever activities appeal. Spend 30 seconds on each sketch or linger for longer. The sketching prompts are versatile, widely accessible and require no special nature knowledge. You don’t have to identify something to be able to enjoy it; you just have to see it. All you need is a pencil, pen, or some coloured pencils and perhaps something to lean on. We've suggested a few locations where you might want to look for particular features in the landscape but keep your eyes peeled for joy wherever you go. Be kind to yourself, nature and other people. Follow the Countryside Code and do what you can to help protect this special place for all future joy spotters. Now, put down your phone and pick up a pencil. It’s time to doodle!