Don’t Just Walk In The Woods—Touch, Smell, and Taste Them, Too

It’s been a hot and rainy summer in many parts of the US, and it’s been hard to spend as much time in nature as many of us would like. Heat waves and unpredictable weather have sometimes made it riskier to be outside. Maybe you’ve chosen an easier hike, or doubled up on water bottles, or stayed inside when you’d much rather be outdoors with friends and family.

If you’ve been feeling apathetic about the outdoors, a new book called Forest Walking, Discovering the Trees and Woodlands of North America might be a helpful read. Co-authors Peter Wohlleben, a forester and conservation advocate, and Jane Billinghurst, an editor, author, and translator, teach readers how to engage with their local forested areas in a deeper way. And it’s what we’re reading for September’s SciFri Book Club.

Diana Plasker, Science Friday’s senior experiences manager, sat down with the authors to talk about how to decode nature’s subtle signs and why it’s important to use all five senses when exploring your surroundings.

Observation tips from the authors of Forest Walking:

• Go slow. Walking slowly helps you observe even more of the natural wonders of a forest, especially if you know what to look for.
• Engage your senses. Beyond sight, you can smell, hear, touch, and even taste (when it’s safe) parts of the forest. For example, smelling bark or tasting Douglas fir needles are some ways to discover new dimensions of the environment.
• Don’t forget the ground. Leaves, pinecones, lichen—there’s a lot to discover underneath your feet.
• Bring the kids! Peter Wohlleben says that he encourages kids to “shout as loud as they can” rather than stay quiet, because the noise helps wildlife know that harmless kids are around them, not a potential predator. (Plus, it’s fun!)