The Meaning of Shadows on Water
What we see when we look at water is rarely water. It may be a reflection of the sky, if we’re looking across it, or…
Tag: rivers
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…
Shadows are a Sign of Impure Water
Can you see me waving? Shadows are a Sign of Impurities in the Water. From my book, How to Read Water: “You will never see…
Water Flows the Wrong Way at the Edge of Rivers
At the edge of rivers, friction causes water to slow down. This leads to eddies – water that turns in circles. In some places the eddies…
What is a Stationary or Standing Wave?
A stationary or standing wave forms when water is pulled back against the flow by gravity. When water flows over an underwater ledge and then…
Slowing Down in Nature
A Guest Blog by Christian Turek “Complete freedom is not what a trail offers. Quite the opposite; a trail is a tactful reduction of options.”…
From a Raindrop to a River
Here is an extraordinary and fun website that shows where any raindrop will end up over the US. https://river-runner.samlearner.com/ Have a play! You might also…
Wayfinding with Rosebay Willowherb – Chamerion angustifolium
Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) is tall late-summer wildflower with distinctive pink-purple flowers that grow in tall spikes from July-September, with spirals of lance-like leaves. It…
Under Every Footstep
A guest blog by Catherine Speakman (Tess of the Vale) History seeps into the soil with the fall of every leaf. All over the world…
What is a Wind Shadow?
A wind shadow is a place where the wind doesn’t reach. There is a calm, sheltered zone on the downwind side of all obstacles, a…
Nature’s Clues and Signs – Pagham
Pagham is a coastal village in the south of Sussex. My walk took me out of the village into agricultural and then flooded areas, before…
Nature’s Clues & Signs – The National Gallery
During a break from recording an audiobook, I visited the National Gallery, a major art museum in Trafalgar Square, London. It has been a long-running fascination…
How to Spot Patterns in Calm Water
If you are trying to work out what calm water is doing, it is sometimes tempting to feel like nothing interesting is happening. There are…
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…
How to Navigate with Lombardy Poplars
There are three types of tree in any landscape: friends, guests and rebels. Every tree is native, invasive or planted. Native trees have been part…
Allow the River to Invite You In
Whilst researching a chapter in the book, How to Read Water, I spent time with fly fishing expert and all-round river guru, Stuart Crofts. During…
The Glitter Path
A ‘glitter path’ is light reflected off water from a low sun, moon or other bright object. Glitter paths help us to read water because…
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,…
No River Runs Straight
No natural river or stream will run straight for longer than 10 times its own width. If you see one that does, like this one…
How to Read Water – New Animation!
Here is the first of a short series of animations that I will be publishing over the coming weeks. Hope you enjoy!
Reflections and Ripples
We see the most detail in relatively calm water when we look at the places where light and dark reflections meet. Look at the line…