SGUK Outdoor Skills Challenge 28: Find Five Signs of Wind Direction

There are many ways in which nature gives us signs of wind direction. Wind leaves clues behind, even when the air has become still. Trees may grow in unusual shapes, grasses can become combed in one direction, and loose sand or fallen leaves may collect where the wind has carried them. Once you start noticing these little details, the landscape becomes a little more interesting than it seemed before.

For this challenge, you need to find five signs that suggest which way the wind has been blowing and then use those signs to make an informed estimate of its direction.

Your Challenge

Find and photograph five natural or environmental signs of wind direction. For each one, record what you noticed and which way you think the wind has been blowing.

What You’ll Need

• A suitable outdoor area, such as a park, woodland edge, beach or open field.
• A phone or camera.
• A notebook or phone to record your observations.
• A compass, if available, to compare your estimate with the actual directions.

Take the Challenge

Look for these five possible clues as you explore:

1. Wind-shaped trees: In exposed places, trees may develop an uneven crown, with branches growing more strongly on the sheltered side. This can indicate the direction of the prevailing wind over a long period.
2. Bent grasses and reeds: Long grass or reeds may be flattened or combed in the direction of a recent wind. Check several plants rather than relying on one bent stem.
3. Sand patterns: On beaches and dunes, ripples and small ridges can reveal how wind has moved loose sand. Look for patterns across an area rather than assuming every ridge points directly downwind.
4. Accumulated leaves and debris: Fallen leaves, small twigs and other loose material can collect against fences, hedges, walls or tree trunks on the sheltered side.
5. Wind erosion: Look for exposed roots, scoured soil or small deposits of sand and dust. These can indicate where wind has removed or deposited material.

Choose one example of each where possible, photograph it and record the direction you think the wind has travelled. If you have a compass, use it to note the direction on the ground.

Remember that these clues aren’t equally reliable. Grass may show the effect of a recent gust, while a tree’s shape reflects repeated exposure over many years. Buildings, hills and hedges can also redirect the wind, so nearby clues may point in different directions.

Check Your Results

Before completing the challenge, check that you can:

• Identify five possible signs of wind direction.
• Explain what each sign suggests.
• Distinguish between clues from recent wind and long-term prevailing winds.
• Record your estimated direction and compare it with a compass reading, if available.

For more guidance, read How to navigate using plants from The Natural Navigator, which explains how exposed trees can reveal the effects of prevailing winds.

Complete the Challenge

Take photographs of your five observations and record the direction each one suggests. If you cannot find all five types in one location, use different features or visit another suitable area.

Your evidence should show what you observed and briefly explain how it helped you estimate the wind direction.

How to Submit Your Challenge

1. Go to your SGUK member profile.
2. Open the Social Activity area.
3. Upload a photograph of your evidence to your activity wall.
4. Add the hashtag #SGUKChallenge28.
5. Share your post for evidence verification.

Once you’ve shared your evidence and it has been verified, the SGUK Outdoor Skills Challenge 28 is complete and the completed challenges figure will be updated on your profile.

Challenge 28 Checklist

Want to Push Yourself?

Visit the same location on a windy day and observe the direction the wind is blowing at that moment. Compare it with the longer-term clues you recorded. Are they pointing in the same direction, or has the wind changed?

This is a useful reminder that natural signs can help you understand your surroundings, but they should not replace a compass and map when you need reliable navigation.

What’s Next?

For your previous challenge, revisit SGUK Outdoor Skills Challenge 27: Identify a Tree Without Looking at Its Leaves. Take another look at the shape of a tree and see whether its branches provide any clues about long-term wind exposure.

Each SGUK Outdoor Skills Challenge can be completed in any order, so keep observing, questioning and learning from the landscape around you.

Learn. Practise. Master.

That’s what the SGUK Outdoor Skills Challenge is all about.