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!
Tag: trees
How to Spot Subtle Patterns in Water
To spot subtle patterns in water, look where dark and light reflections touch each other. On calm days, the surface of water can appear still,…
Why Are Some Leaves Hairy?
Hairs protect a leaf from drying, cold and animals. They are common in spring. On many plants there are tiny hairs that trap a thin…
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…
What is a Plucking Post?
A plucking post is an elevated area used by birds of prey, and occasionally other animals, to pluck and feed on their recent prey. All…
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.”…
The Tree Lady Talks Podcast
I had a fun chat with Sharon Durdant-Hollamby, past President of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, Director of Sharon Hosegood Associates, experienced chair, presenter, and…
Nature Junkie Radio
A new podcast interview: https://www.naturejunkielife.com/naturejunkieradio/tristangooley
Autumn Appears First in High Southern Leaves
Autumn / Fall appears first in the highest leaves on the warmer southern side of the tree. More on this and other seasonal signs in…
The Tree That Ate a Bicycle
My thanks to Michael for coming to my talk in Royal Scottish Geographical Society talk on reading trees in Glasgow last night. And for sharing…
Morning or Afternoon in Lyme Regis?
I recently took this photo in Lyme Regis, Dorset, on the south coast of England. But what time of day was the picture taken, morning…
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…
Woodland Trust
I’m honoured and delighted to have accepted an invitation to become an Ambassador for the Woodland Trust. I look forward to continuing to support their…
Choose Lichens Over Mosses for Effective Navigation
Mosses get all the press, but lichens are the stars when it comes to effective natural navigation. In the video above I look at the…
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…
What are the vertical marks and scars on tree bark?
An explanation for some of the mysterious vertical marks and scars we find on trees.
Index of How to Read a Tree
Below is the full Index of the book, How to Read a Tree. Return to the Book. adaptability of roots 127-9, 134-6 ageing of bark…
Best Review Yet?
I’ve been writing books for 14 years and these books have received their share of reviews over that time. The award for the worst ever…
How Sketching Taught Me to Capture the Spirit of a Tree
A guest blog by Kerry Cooper Resolution day – 1st January 2019. I set myself the goal of sketching every single day for a whole…