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…
Tag: tree clues
The Hidden Seasons
A Calendar of Nature’s Clues and Signs ‘When we know what to look for and what it means, seasonal moments that were once hidden shine…
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…
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…
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…
What Does a Lightning Strike on a Tree Look Like?
When lightning strikes a tree, the high-voltage electricity flows through any water on the bark and through the sap under the bark. This heats the…
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…
How To Tell Which Tree is Older?
Which is the older of these two large trees? Clue: there are a few ways we can age trees, including one related to natural navigation.…
Reading Trees on BBC Radio 4 Today
It was an honour and a great pleasure to get the chance to talk about reading tree signs with Justin Webb on BBC Radio 4’s…
Spring Starts Low in Trees
Leaves burst out earliest low down in the smallest trees and lowest branches. For more seasonal tree signs, please see How to Read a Tree.
The Proof is in my Hands!
Only a couple of months until How to Read a Tree is born… Getting exciting now! Yesterday I spent a very enjoyable afternoon investigating trees…
The Gower Peninsula
I’m recently back from a 4-day series of natural navigation exercises on the wonderful Gower Peninsula, in South Wales. To see photos and videos of…
The Art of Perception in Nature
Take a good look at this photo before reading on… Did you spot it? We notice anomalies, colours or shapes that don’t ‘fit’ – that…
How to Read a Tree
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER THE AMAZON BESTSELLER THE OFFICIAL INDIE NO.1 BESTSELLER WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE MONTH Do two trees ever appear identical? No, but…
Book Cover Reveal
This is the UK cover of my latest book, How to Read a Tree. Hope you like it. It can be pre-ordered through the usual…
Little and Large Natural Navigation Clues
Sometimes natural navigation is more challenging than others. I’m often asked, “What is the most difficult place to navigate using nature?” I think people expect…
Snow Signs in Finland
My thanks to Chris, who writes with some very interesting observations from the Kangasala region of Finland: “In the first picture (above), if you look…
The Golden Leyland Cypress
My thanks to regular correspondent, Alban Cambe, for these excellent images. Which direction are we looking in the top picture above? Regular readers will spot…
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…
Which Way Are We Looking? Golden Edition
Which direction are we looking in this photo taken in West Sussex, southeast UK? North, East, South or West? It’s a tough one. There are…
What are the Coloured Paint Marks on Trees?
If you walk in or near woods regularly, you will have come across splotches of bright coloured paint on the tree trunks. What are they?…