Zoom in
And what is the difference between fog and mist anyway?
This week started with a very foggy/misty* walk. The usual views of oast houses, fields and trees had vanished, and I found myself zooming in on the smaller, more intricate details instead. The fog provided the perfect backdrop for noticing the frosty leaves, the buds on the trees and the dazzling colours of great tits hopping about in lower branches.
It was a good reminder that nature connection is all about moments, not minutes. Spending a short time in nature where you’re actually engaging with the things around you is much more valuable (in terms of nature connectedness and mental wellbeing) than a long hike with your headphones in where you don’t stop to look at or listen to anything around you.
Your task
This week I’d like to encourage you to zoom in a bit. Go outside and find something you may not normally pay much attention too – moss and lichen are especially good for this! Take a closer look. I mean really look. What do you notice? Does it remind you of anything? What makes you curious about it? If you are so inclined, maybe you could draw what you find in your journal and write down your observations, thoughts and questions. If you’ve got a hand lens, a magnifying glass or a macro lens on your camera/phone, you might be able to take an even closer look. What do you notice now?
*The difference between fog and mist is something I constantly Google. In case you too struggle to remember which is which, here’s some info from the Met Office:
Fog and mist differ by how far you can see through them. Fog is when you can see less than 1,000 metres away, and if you can see further than 1,000 metres, we call it mist.
The main issue with this is I’m not sure that I know how far 1,000 metres is. Numbers, distances and estimations are something I find tricky. If you have a good comparison for me, please send it my way!
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Look Out For Lichens
Have you ever stopped to look at a lichen? Up until a few years ago I probably never had, and I wasn’t even sure how to pronounce the word (most people say “ly-ken” nowadays, though some people still say lichen with a “ch” sound). In his book, The Walker’s Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs
Catkins: Look a little bit closer
The lane I walk along most days with Noushi is lined with young hazels, growing through the ivy hedgerows. To be honest, I don’t usually pay them much attention unless I spot a dunnock hopping about near them, or a rat scurrying in the ivy behind.
Thank you for so clearly pointing out the undeniable truth that the mist vs fog issue is very confusing! In my language, there is only one word for both, and when writing in English I also need to look it up all the time.
Lovely photos too. I really enjoy zooming in on moss.
Lovely. On recent walks I've been paying close attention to a patch of Scarlet Elf Cups! They started off very small and mostly tucked away under fallen leaves and moss, but are getting bigger and more noticeable. They're such a beautiful colour.