Hi all - I sent this reply to theknight and he that I post it up. Hope it helps,
Following your question about directions. Finding the natural directions in a wood is a lot harder than outside as local environments can change the environment in such a way that it all gets really confusing.
The best methods I have always found of finding north, etc, are:
The moss on the sides of trees. This is better done in a more open area and you should look at a number of trees and get an estimate. The problem with this is that some mosses grow on the south and others grow on the north. If you go out with a compass you could do a little study yourself, nature is always the best teacher.
The rings on a cut tree supposedly grow tighter on the sunnier side (south). This of course is not very reliable in dense wood. And again, you'll have to get an average of a number of trees.
The analog clock method. I never really use it, that's coz i don't really understand it myself. I think - that it's something like this: On a 24hour clock (on second thoughts, maybe it's a 12 hour clock, i'm sure someone here knows!). You point the hour hand at the sun and the direction of 12o'clock is about north.
The best method that I have found is the sun stick. On a flat piece of grund stick a stick in. The stick need only be about 2foot tall. place a pebble on the highest point of the sticks shadow (the furthest point along the shadow on the floor from the base of the stick). then a couple of hours later place another pebble on the point of the new position of the end of the sticks shadow. imagine a line between bothe the pebbles, this is almost an exact East to West line. The first pebble is towards the west and the second is towards the east.
Certain types of ant will only ever have a nest on a particular side of a tree.
Other ways of finding things other than north are very numerous. I know just a handful and these are:
Bees and wasps are generally no more than 3miles from water and if they are flying straight without stopping they are usually flying from or to water.
When birds are flying from tree to tree and stopping often, they are sometimes full of water they have just drank a lot. The direction that they are flying from indicates the direction of a possible water source. The problem with this method is that birds flying low and stopping can also indicate that they have just eaten or even that the air pressure is changing and that a storm or change of weather is on it's way.
Most of these are only estimate so don't place your life on them. If you come across any others I would love to know.
Good Luck mate and keep in touch,
Joel :-D
PS
Also, the wind direction is usually from the east-west.
PPS
Most of these only work in the northern hemisphere. I hope you find them useful!
