Navigating with Trees in Cities
London plane trees are tall, broad-canopied trees with mottled bark that flakes away in patches of cream, grey, and olive. This gives their bark a…
Tag: How to Read a Tree
This Morning on ITV
It was a fun morning on Friday, with the ‘This Morning‘ team in the ITV woods. It’s always an interesting challenge because I’m given about…
How to Navigate with Tree Trunks
From my book, How to Read a Tree, The whole tree responds to wind and this includes the trunk. Most are ‘skinny into wind’. Walk…
An Italian Poem for Tree-Lovers
My thanks to Francesco for this delightful email: Hello Tristan, Here is Francesco from Italy. I just finished “How to Read a Tree” and I’m…
The Meaning of Tree Branches
In nature, shapes are stories. There are always a hundred stories in every tree, because there are a hundred branches, each with its own tale…
A Word from an Italian Arboriculturist
In March I travelled to Rome and Milan to launch the Italian edition of How to Read a Tree (Lleggere gli alberi). After a talk…
New UK Paperback Covers
My UK publisher Hodder Press have redesigned the covers of six of my paperbacks. What do you think of the new look for the collection?
The Challenge of Ageing Trees
Some tree-reading scribblings from a natural navigation challenge in the New Forest, Hampshire, last year… Life, Death and the Challenge of Ageing Trees Gales that…
How to Use Plants to Map Wet Ground
All plants need water and all plants are sensitive to the levels of water in the ground. This means that every plant can make a…
A Natural Map of Canopy Gaps
Gaps in the canopy can be a real blessing, especially when navigating under dense coniferous woodland. You might also enjoy: The Beginner’s Guide to Natural…
Paperbacks of the Year
A big thank you to Waterstones for selecting How to Read a Tree as one of their ‘Paperbacks of the Year 2024’. You can explore…
Sign of the Week
For outdoor clues, signs, puzzles and more, please subscribe to my SIGN OF THE WEEK newsletter. https://mailchi.mp/naturalnavigator/sign-of-the-week
Tree Trunks Lean Away From Buildings
Tree trunks lean away from the shade of buildings and towards the light. This habit tends to override the normal biases towards southern light, because…
Gardeners’ World Podcast
For an podcast interview about nature’s signs, natural navigation and how these come into play in gardens please listen to an interview with Tristan Gooley…
What are Elephants’ Toes in Trees?
Elephants’ toes are the nickname for the way the bottom of a tree trunk flares out towards the prevailing wind. In the video above and…
Woodland Trust Ambassador Paperback Launch
Hi, I’m Tristan Gooley and I’m very proud to be a Woodland Trust Ambassador. I’ve spent decades researching, teaching and writing about clues and signs…
Waterstones Book of the Month
So thrilled that Waterstones have chosen HOW TO READ A TREE as their non-fiction book of the month for June! Thank you Waterstones!
How to Read a Tree – In French
How to Read a Tree has been published in France! “Ce Que Nous Disent Les Arbres” Please do share with any Francophone friends, merci!
Which Direction Are We Walking?
Which Direction Are We Walking in the video above? North, East, South or West? There are clues in the the trees, the light, the mud,…
What is Flagging in Trees?
Flagging in trees is a pattern caused by wind killing the branches on one side of the tree only. From the book, How to Read…
A Parasol Pine in Texas
My thanks to Dan for this email and permission to share: Hi Tristan, I received a copy of your newest book on trees and it’s…