Shaven Raspberry partner Lyle Brotherton has had his first major article on navigation published in ‘Trail’ magazine, one of the the UK’s premier outdoor magazines.  Lyle who both lectures and instructs advanced navigation to search and rescue teams around the world is a GPS expert.  His article gives some basic tips on how to better prepare yourself for when you have to navigate in bad weather.  Lyle’s book -”Land Navigation Masterclass” is due out later this year.  More information is available from - www.micronavigation.com

To view Lyle’s Trail Magazine article in full please go to - http://issuu.com/lfto/docs/trail/4

Recent pictures of the Shaven Raspberry Grid Tool/Roamer being used in untracked bush around Hobart, Tasmainia by one of our valued Customers!

Sue Denman, from Tasmainia stated - “All agreed it is a very useful object, and we did team it up with a GPS to ensure we were on the right track.”

Sales of the Shaven Raspberry Grid Reference Tool have truly went global with the first international sales to the southern hemisphere!  A customer from Tasmania, Australia ordered several Grid Reference Tools for use in the bush.  Tasmania’s dramatically changing weather conditions and rugged wilderness can be a challenge to navigate in so the added safety provided by using the Shaven Raspberry Grid Reference Tool  for giving and plotting grid references accurately is a must.

Checking a grid reference

My wife had a go using the Shaven Raspberry Grid reference Tool in her geography lessons with a small group of 16 year old pupils.  She had already spent one hour with them  teaching them 6 figure grid references. but they were struggling  and the little light bulb was yet to be lit!  With the Shaven Raspberry Grid Reference Tool it all clicked into place within a few minutes.  The pupils wondered why they had been struggling and quickly moved on to accurately use 6 figure grid references without the grid reference tool as they would need to in their geography examination.

John Jenner, St Magalene Court School, Devon.

Taking a grid reference

Measuring Distance with the Grid Reference Tool

We used the Grid Reference Tool with a group of children training for a 16   mile   hiking challenge.  Most had not grasped 6 figure grid references, but I decided to be brave and have a go introducing it out in the field.  The name  caused some giggles, and they enjoyed refering to it as the ‘Shaven Raspberry’.  After a little deliberation, getting it the right way round with the zeros in the bottom corner we were away, it makes it so simple to take 6 figure grid references.  Lots of practice through the day saw the group growing in confidence with their 6 figure grid references.  I thought as their knowledge and confidence grew, so their reliance on the Shaven Raspberry Grid Tool would dwindle.  Not at all, ask them to find me an object at a grid reference, or give a grid reference for an object and their asking for a Shaven Raspberry Grid Reference Tool to do the task.  Out of 16 children none of them gave me an incorrect grid reference all day, that doesn’t mean to say that they don’t need  lots more practise!

John Jenner, St Magdelen Court School, Devon.  

Jenny Changleng

Jenny commented ‘I introduced the Shaven Raspberry Grid Reference Finder to my Bronze DofE students, who have little or no prior navigation experience, and they immediately understood the concept. It is so easy to use, helps eliminate mistakes and is very accurate in plotting and giving grid references’.

Jenny Changleng is a DofE programme leader.  She holds a summer Mountain Leader Award, is a member of a Scottish Mountain Rescue Team, and a dog handler with SARDA (Search and Rescue Dog Association).

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