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…
Tag: natural navigation
Navigating Marrakesh
I’m recently back from a natural navigation research trip to Marrakesh in Morocco. Proper deep-end urban navigation challenges in the souks! Photos and videos of…
The Woolly Compass
On exposed hillsides, sheep take shelter behind gorse bushes. Over time this kills the lowest branches, creates patches of bare earth and pieces of straggling…
Which Way Are We Walking in North Wales?
Clues in the mud colours, wildflowers and more… Mud in ruts is wetter and darker on shaded south side. Wildflowers more common in south-facing spots.…
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
What Time is It?
What time was this video taken? There are clues in the sun, shadows, church, trees, clouds, grasses and more. Answer below. Spoiler Alert… Answers below……
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…
Which Way Are We Walking?
North, East, South or West? And why? Answer… Spoiler Alert… Notice the green algae and mosses growing on the right side of the roof, showing…
Finding Land with Help from the Birds
“It was our first and only experience in 50 years of cruising of navigating by gannet!” My thanks to Christopher for this lovely email and…
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,…
Which Way Are We Looking?
I took this photo in the South Downs a few days ago. Which direction are we looking? North, East, South or West? And Why? Struggling?…
What is Rime Ice?
Rime Ice There is a common type of icing that is regularly called frost, but is not formed in the same way. Rime ice occurs…
Texas Creosote Bush
My thanks to Dan Acosta for the following very interesting email and permission to share: Hi Tristan, I was in the Chihuahuan desert at Big…
Ants Build Landmarks
Humans are so accustomed to using landmarks that we usually don’t even realise when we are doing it. “Turn left at the post office.” “Meet…
Quite Frankly Navigating with Nature Interview
Really enjoyed this chat about navigating with nature with Frank Val of Quite Frankly podcast. It was a wide-ranging chat and we covered a lot…
Reading Trees for Navigation – A Tip
I recently returned from a natural navigation exercise in the New Forest, Hampshire. On leaving a patch of woodland I was reminded of a common…
June Solstice Question
Happy Solstice! Time to celebrate with a micro puzzle… If you walked towards sunrise for ten minutes this morning, then waited and walked towards sunset…
What are Trampling-Tolerant Plants?
There are no plants that like being trampled on by humans or animals, but there are some that specialise in surviving in these tough zones.…
Clues and Signs in Nature: Northern and Southern Hemisphere
I receive quite a few emails asking whether my books are relevant for readers in the Southern Hemisphere. The answer is ‘yes’, but only if…
Rainbow Natural Navigation Mini Quiz
I took this photo of a rainbow in Sussex, southern England, late in the day, a little over a week ago. Which way are we…