Make it stand out.

When out scouting in the wild, we may discover a specific plant or mushroom that we’d like to make a note of for later expeditions or to share with other interested parties. With the advent of online community foraging maps it can be easy to mark your location and discoveries through GPS, but it isn’t always possible to connect to a suitable network when exploring rural areas. If we have a paper map to hand we can use methods such as triangulation to locate our exact spot with a compass and pencil, but it’s also a useful skill to know the basics of making your own map so that you don’t need to rely on having an internet connection or a paper map to hand.

Basic Supplies

You will need to be carrying a pen, paper, and compass. Ideally you will have made a drawing of the area you’re looking to explore beforehand, so that you already have an idea of the scope of your map. You can do this by copying out an area from a map at home, or deciding on your own focus and scale. If you’re looking to create a very precise map then you can create a large drawing for a small area, which will allow for highly specific locations to be noted. You should make a mark on the map of which direction is North, which will help you pinpoint locations when you’re out in the field.

Landmarks

These can be added to your map in advance, or as you find them on your trip. While large area maps use landmarks such as churches and bridges, you can create a system that makes more sense for the area you’re covering by using natural features such as streams and trees with notable appearances. Try to use landmarks that mark the borders of the area you are mapping out, as this will help you to orient yourself. When adding these landmarks while out in the field, you can use your compass to locate yourself in relation to the North arrow you have added, and other landmarks that you can see.

Adding topographical features will also greatly increase the accuracy of your map, particularly in landscapes with many hills or valleys. You can use a traditional system of lines which grow closer together as the land becomes steeper, or devise a different system such as writing simplified notes on the map if this is easier.

Keys

Creating a key is the best way to differentiate your finds when returning to your map at a later date, and how detailed your key needs to be will depend on how wide the variety of species you are searching for is. If you are noting wildlife of several different types, you may want to use symbols as a basic starting point, such as a mushroom for fungi, a leaf for foliage, and a flower for flowering plants.

Once you have established this kind of system, you will need to work out the best way to note down each specific finding. One option, which will leave your map clear of lots of notes, is to add a number at the location of the find. You can then create a numbered list on the back of your map where you can add more details. If you don’t know the name of the plant or fungi