Navigating by Nature

Which way's north? It's a simple question but isn't always easy to answer, yet if lost in an unfamiliar landscape your life could depend on knowing.

The basic rule of thumb of course in such situations is to always carry a map and compass, and to know how to use them properly, but nature can be surprisingly helpful too if you know what to look for.










There are many ways to work out directions using the sun to help, such as knowing that the sun is due south at midday (1pm in summer), but when it's cloudy this is no good. Instead it's worth looking at trees for clues. Many trees, especially conifers, will bush out more towards the south, as this side gets more light and warmth during the day. Another clue is to look for moss, which tends to grow on the north side of the tree trunk, which is damper, creating better conditions for moss to grow.

Whilst walking in Sale the other day, we saw plenty of evidence of this with the trees along the paths all leaning towards the south, and plenty of moss on the northern side of the trees. Kevan was intrigued by this and was caught having a closer look!