Butcher’s Broom – Ruscus aculeatus
Butcher’s broom is a dark, spiny waist-high evergreen shrub. It is a perennial plant with sharp pointed leaves. The height and prickliness gave rise to…
Tag: plants
How to See Wildlife in Woodlands
The key to seeing wildlife anywhere isn’t magic, it’s understanding probabilities. There are so many techniques for improving your chances, many of them listed in…
The Sound of Fog Drip
What is fog drip? When we see fog, the air is saturated, there is more water than it can hold. This forms droplets which gather…
Snow Tells Tales About Trails
There are many different kinds of snow, as the Inuit know only too well. You are probably familiar with how easy it is to track…
A Small, Challenging Natural Navigation Exercise in Fog
Yesterday the conditions were perfect for a short tricky natural navigation exercise in fog. Here are some of the photos from that challenge. These were taken…
The Meaning of Missing Moss
Moss is important in natural navigation, but not the quick easy method that many seem to think. I’ve written about the challenge of using moss…
Fast Recognition and Optical Illusions in Nature
Our brains are pattern-recognising machines. This is true everywhere, but not least in nature, where it honed these skills over millions of years. Bird calls,…
Some Tips on Home-Hunting in the Tyrol
My thanks to Otta Wenskus for the following tips. They offer practical advice if you are looking for a flat or house near Innsbruck… And…
Paths Are Stories
Study the picture above. Can you read the story? My thanks to Kate Shaw for sending me the photos above and below that help tell…
The ‘Escape from the Woods Effect’ in Trees
Have a look at the trees at the edge of any woodland and you’ll notice that the branches appear to grow away from the wood…
10th Anniversary Edition of The Natural Navigator
I’m delighted to announce that there is now a new edition of The Natural Navigator in the UK. The 10th Anniversary edition has a new…
Alder Trees – A Sign of Water Nearby
The common alder – Alnus glutinosa – is a small tree that grows up to about 25 metres. It is native in the UK and…
Fallow Deer Flight and Refuge Behaviour
My latest book, Wild Signs and Star Paths, explains how it is possible to predict an animal’s next move. By following a simple stepping-stone approach,…
Great Mullein Marks Roads
Cracking email in from Canada… Hi Tristan Excellent newsletter, thanks very much! Just thought I would mention something I noticed while out in the Hills…
Wild Signs and Star Paths – Full Book INDEX
Below is a full index from the book Wild Signs and Star Paths. (Published as The Nature Instinct in the USA.) WILD SIGNS AND STAR…
The Common or Dog Violet
The Common dog-violet – Viola riviniana – flowers in spring, from April to June. (The ‘dog’ part of the name refers to its lack of…
Hydrangeas – Nature’s Litmus Test
Hydrangeas are nature’s litmus test, by which I mean they can tell us the pH of the soil they are growing in. There are actually…
How to Read Water
Clues & Patterns from Puddles to the Sea A New York Times Bestseller. A Sunday Times “Must Read” book. A must-have book for walkers, sailors,…
The Avenue Effect in Trees
My thanks to Alun for sending in this photo of autumn colour near the Kitano Tenman-Gu Shrine in Kyoto. And the following question: “I saw…
How to Find Your Way Using Ivy
A short video explaining how to find north or south and make a map in the woods using ivy (Hedera helix). You might also enjoy:…
How to Find Your Way with Tree Leaves
Earlier I showed how it is possible to find your way using the colour of tree leaves. Now I’d like to show you how to…