Encounter Nature

I enjoy all Melissa Harrison’s writings and books, but this app is greatly valued for current information, often new knowledge or reminder of something forgotten. Its shortness is perfect for the end or beginning of the day to connect me with the natural world around me and in my garden when I’m not settling down for a long read. I really appreciate being alerted to listen for a particular bird or look out for particular wild flowers emerging or to look out for insects new to me. The list goes on! It’s much easier for my brain to have one or two things to keep in mind! I often scroll back to check on something too. I find I remember what I’ve read because it’s brief! What an antidote to the miserable daily news! Thank you.

I use the Encounter Nature app most days, on almost every walk, and it’s transformed how I notice whats around me. Logging the weather, my thoughts, and any wildlife I spot has made me slow down, look closer, and appreciate all I used to miss. It’s free, beautifully simple to use, and free of ads or any social‑media pressure. I can add photos, track my location, and everything I record is totally private. For my eyes only. The seasonal prompts and expert tips nudge me to notice things like the first migrating birds or tiny shifts in plant growth. It’s become an inspiring little companion that makes my walks feel richer and more alive. Highly recommended!

I’ve only been using this app for a few weeks, but already it’s having a significant impact on my experience of the world around me, and my general wellbeing. I’m finding myself going on walks every day where before I kept finding excuses not to, and spending more time on them because I’m that much more engaged. The gentle, simple daily pointers of guidance from Harrison are proving a brilliant addition, as they’re nudging me just the right amount to keep looking and noting. I really appreciate the care that’s going into this. It’s a relatively basic interface compared to what we’re used to now, and I think that’s part of what makes it so good. You can control how much info you see in the feed, but even at maximum, there’s nothing there that isn’t interesting and educational. On the one hand I find myself wanting to see a few more features like audio/field recordings and video, and on the other I’m just happy with having enough to log but not so much that I look at my phone more than the world around me. Almost surprised something like this hasn’t existed for a long time, but not surprised it took a dedicated nature writer to understand what’s needed to make this work.