Which Way Are We Looking?
I took the dogs into the woods for their walk this morning. Whilst trying a shortcut through some understory trees and undergrowth, something gave me…
Find out how to read water
Tag: algae
The Truth About Moss
Moss is probably the best known natural navigation indicator in the world. It is also excellent at demonstrating how easy it is to go wrong…
Trentepohlia, Moisture and Signs Pointing North
Here is a nice example of trentepohlia on the north side of a tree. This algae thrives in moist, shady places and can be one…
The Northern Lights in Brighton
I took this picture of the outside of the Northern Lights bar and Scandinavian restaurant in Brighton recently. The algae high on the wall in…
Trentepohlia
This orange/rust-coloured algae, trentepohlia, thrives in moist shady places and – with the usual cautions – can be used as a clue to finding north.…
Himalayan Balsam in Sidney Wood
A wonderful short walk in an area of Sidney Wood called Fir Tree Copse yesterday revealed many things, not least that I can still walk…
Frost Shadows and Compasses
It is that time of year when nature likes to get out her frost compasses for us to admire. I took this photo last Friday…
Ground Moisture
Happy New Year! At times like this, I sometimes wonder what the Earth and Sun would say to each other if they could talk. They…
Grave Lichens
Churches are well worth a minute of navigational inquiry. The church itself is likely to show a preference for an east-west alignment, with the altar…