Gabriel Hemery's Blog: Gabriel Hemery, page 2

Forest Guide Wales Available to Preorder

The Forest Guide Wales is coming 6th February and I was excited to receive and hold a first copy of the book in my hands in time for the new year. The guide book is now available to preorder from all good bookshops, with signed copies available direct from the author.

Forest Guide Wales front coverForest Guide Wales back coverForest Guide Wales copies

In this practical guide, Gabriel Hemery brings together the beauty, purpose, history and wildlife of some of the most extraordinary woodland sites in Wales, from the largest (like Tywi Forest, covering more than 6,000 hectares) to the smallest (measuring one hectare). Some woods are havens for rare wildlife such as the threatened red squirrel, spectacular lichens and the elusive goshawk. Others offer opportunities to explore archaeological features and discover some of Wales��� magical and hidden histories. Many are ideal for simply enjoying the spectacular Welsh scenery.

The book is divided into seven regions, each beginning with a summary of its woodland heritage. The 325 site entries contain details of ownership, designation, area, forest type, precise access details (including grid reference, post code and what3words reference) and a description of key features of interest. With clear maps and hundreds of remarkable photographs showcasing Wales��� plants, animals and landscapes, this is an essential book for adventurers, ramblers and wildlife enthusiasts. Wherever you may be in Wales, with this guide you will never be far from a fascinating forest site.

The Forest Guide Wales is the second of a three-book series which together will provide a unique and comprehensive guide to more than 1000 forest sites across Britain.

The Forest Guide Wales is published on 6th February and is now available to preorder. I’m also accepting preorders and will aim to send out copies in advance of the official publication date. Alternatively, support your local bookshop by visiting your local store to order or explore Bookshop.org online.

Meanwhile, advance copies of the book are being prepared for my lovely Book Patrons.

The Forest Guide: Wales £25.00

A guide to exploring 325 of Wales’s most scenic, wildlife-rich and historically significant woodlands.

Available on back-order

The Forest Guide: Wales quantity Add to basket SKU: 9781399409124 Category: paperback book, shopTags: book, forest guide

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Christmas Special

I have a range of lovely tree-themed gifts on offer, available direct from me as the creator. Last orders Tuesday 17th December. Perfect for nature lovers and fans of the outdoors.

Christmas specials direct from Gabriel HemeryBooks

All copies personally signed from me. Want a special dedication? No problem, just ask!

The Tree Almanac 2025 £16.99

A wondrous seasonal journey through Britain and Ireland’s trees. Hardback. Signed copy by the author. ���A seductive mix of science, history and culture��� – Tracy Chevalier ‘This book is not just an interesting read but a handbook to notice more in our woodlands. Let it guide you through the seasons, offering both practical wisdom and inspiration.’ –��Levison Wood  

In stock (can be backordered)

The Tree Almanac 2025 quantity Add to basket SKU: 9781472149398 Category: hardback book, shopTags: book, tree almanacSome other books:

There are several titles in my Shop, including:

The Forest Guide: ScotlandThe Tree Almanac 2025Green Gold (special price)Calendar

The Forests of Wales 2025 calendar features 13 images by Gabriel Hemery selected from The Forest Guide: Wales publishing with Bloomsbury in 2025, printed in large (A3) format in glorious colour.

Forests of Wales 2025 Calendar £25.00

The Forests of Wales 2025 calendar features 13 images by Gabriel Hemery selected from The Forest Guide: Wales publishing with Bloomsbury in 2025, printed in large (A3) format in glorious colour.

In stock (can be backordered)

Forests of Wales 2025 Calendar quantity Add to basket SKU: cal2025-1 Category: calendar, shopTags: 2025, calendarFor Book Lovers

Looking for a unique gift for someone special this Christmas … gift a book patronage.

Book Patron certificate

The Book Patron will receive a copy of your choice from one of the three guidebooks, and their name will appear in the England guide due for publication in 2026. Meanwhile they will receive a personalised certificate.

Find out more about the Book Patron scheme here.

Art Print

Choose from more than 250 images taken during my odyssey to capture and publish a photo every day for a year.

Fine art photographic prints, produced by a specialist printer. Measures 12in/30cm along longest side.

Visit Project365 galleries to browse and select your image. Please note that unlike other products, prints may not arrive in time for Christmas if ordered after 14th December.

Visit my Shop for more ideas and inspiration this Christmas.

The post Christmas Special appeared first on Gabriel Hemery.

Calculate your Tree Credit Score

Everyone should plant one tree for every year they live on Earth and be proud of having a positive Tree Credit Score. Do you know how to calculate your Tree Credit Score?

Planting a number of trees to match your age is not as difficult as you might imagine. Anyone can have a go at tree planting, and you may be surprised at how many you can plant in an hour or two. Even if you are quite mature in age, it won���t take you long to ���catch up��� so that your tree count matches your years! The secret is to plant trees regularly, every year. Before you know it, you may move into tree credit. If you are old, infirm or simply too busy, then there are many non-profit organisations which will accept a donation and plant trees on your behalf. 

If you are not sure where to plant a tree, there are lots of schemes and activities across the country. Try contacting your local wildlife trust to volunteer or any one of the national environmental charities. If you fancy yourself as a ‘tree terrorist’ or ‘gorilla tree planter’, there’s little to stop you scattering tree seed or planting out seedlings quietly in the countryside, in hedgerows, or even around our towns and cities.

���Everyone should plant a tree for every year they live on Earth.���

Dr Gabriel Hemery, The Tree Almanac 2025

I launched the Tree Credit Score as a concept in The Tree Almanac 2025 (Robinson Books). If you want to find out more, I recommend that you buy a copy, either from one of these online sellers or direct from me.

How to calculate your Tree Credit Score

Calculating your Tree Credit Score (TCS) is quite straightforward. Just subtract your age in years (A) from the number of trees you have planted (P) in your life to date. The following elegant formula prevents a negative credit score:

If the mathematical equation looks a little complicated, don���t worry. I���ve created a simple Tree Credit Score calculator. Find out more and calculate your Tree Credit Score using my free calculator. You can even download a personalised certificate.

Calculate your Tree Credit Score

If you feel as strongly as I do about the biodiversity crisis and about climate change, please share this page with your friends and family to help spread the word! Or, copy and paste this url: www.gabhem.com/tcs

The Tree Almanac 2025 £16.99 Add to basket

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Publication Day: The Tree Almanac 2025

It’s publication day for The Tree Almanac 2025!

“I allow myself to dream that this edition will build upon the last in rekindling an affinity between people and the natural world, to open more eyes to the fragile beauty of our trees and forests, and even energise some readers to take action.”

“We are curious, brilliant and sentient creatures. One one hand we love and cherish the beauty of nature and the world around us, while on the other we are increasingly aware of our own devastating impact on the natural world, yet seemingly incapable of saving us from ourselves.”

Available from all good bookshops, or buy a signed copy direct from the author (see below or visit my shop).

The Tree Almanac 2025 £16.99

A wondrous seasonal journey through Britain and Ireland’s trees. Hardback. Signed copy by the author. ���A seductive mix of science, history and culture��� – Tracy Chevalier ‘This book is not just an interesting read but a handbook to notice more in our woodlands. Let it guide you through the seasons, offering both practical wisdom and inspiration.’ –��Levison Wood  

In stock (can be backordered)

The Tree Almanac 2025 quantity Add to basket SKU: 9781472149398 Category: hardback book, shopTags: book, tree almanac

The post Publication Day: The Tree Almanac 2025 appeared first on Gabriel Hemery.

Foreword by Levison Wood

I���m delighted to reveal that the foreword to The Tree Almanac 2025 has been provided by explorer Levison Wood.

���This book is not just an interesting read but a handbook to notice more in our woodlands. Let it guide you through the seasons, offering both practical wisdom and inspiration.���

Levison Wood, Foreword of The Tree Almanac 2025

Levison Wood is a renowned explorer, writer & photographer who has written eleven best-selling books and produced several critically acclaimed documentaries which have been aired around the globe. He was recently described by The Times as ���Britain���s best-loved adventurer���.

���Hemery���s deep-rooted knowledge and his compelling storytelling will encourage a deeper love and understanding of woodlands, urging us all to protect our planet���s green guardians.���

Levison Wood, Foreword of The Tree Almanac 2025

In the Foreword, Levison writes about the wisdom which trees afford us and all their other benefits. He remembers the importance of trees in his own family, and later how some of his most challenging walking expeditions has taken him through many of the world���s greatest forests.

Find out more about Levison Wood.

Buy your copy of The Tree Almanac 2025 signed by the author

The Tree Almanac 2025 is published on 29th August 2024. Copies are available to purchase today, direct from the author. Also available from all good bookshops – find out more.

The Tree Almanac 2025 £16.99

A wondrous seasonal journey through Britain and Ireland’s trees. Hardback. Signed copy by the author. ���A seductive mix of science, history and culture��� – Tracy Chevalier ‘This book is not just an interesting read but a handbook to notice more in our woodlands. Let it guide you through the seasons, offering both practical wisdom and inspiration.’ –��Levison Wood  

In stock (can be backordered)

The Tree Almanac 2025 quantity Add to basket SKU: 9781472149398 Category: hardback book, shopTags: book, tree almanac

The post Foreword by Levison Wood appeared first on Gabriel Hemery.

Seeing the Paper for the Trees

The following article by Gabriel Hemery was first published in the Summer 2024 edition of The Author, the journal of the Society of Authors.

Look closely at it. Not just the i and the t ��� focus on the tittle (the dot of the i, or ���jot���). Grab a magnifying glass or open an enlarging app to see the foundations of our printed words. There, under the perfect black sphere of ink, are the tiny interwoven fibres from a tree ��� a tree that began life in a forest some 50 years ago.

Behind the work of all writers is an entire industry, and as an author who writes exclusively about the environment, especially trees, I welcomed the launch of the SoA���s Tree to Me campaign last year, accompanied by the byline, ���My books shouldn���t cost the Earth.��� It is true that if authors talk to their publishers more about sustainability it will help readers make better informed decisions about sustainable book purchases. But if we want our industry to really become more sustainable, we need to understand more about the paper it is printed on ��� and the trees from which that paper is made.

Tree Truths

As one of Europe���s least wooded countries, with just 13% of its land covered with trees, the UK is a large importer of timber and wood products. In all, some 59% of our current needs in paper and paperboard are fulfilled within the UK. The rest is imported ��� mostly from Germany (20%), Sweden (14%), and Finland (11%).

All the paper product made in the 60 paper and pulp mills in the UK ��� creating products ranging from teabags to top-quality coated papers ��� uses softwood material grown in conifer plantations. Sitka spruce is by far the most productive conifer species and therefore dominates commercial plantations, with other species like Douglas fir, Norway spruce and Corsican pine relatively minor in comparison.

Conifer plantations do not have a good reputation, but this is perhaps undeserved. There was a time when huge areas were planted without much regard to landscape and the environment, but today our standards for sustainable forestry in the UK are globally respected. Many of our largest and most productive forests are truly multi-purpose. Kielder Forest for example, which covers 650 square kilometres in Northumberland, provides space for recreation and adventure sports, and habitat for threatened wildlife such as pine marten and goshawk, while producing 0.5 million cubic metres of timber each year. The UK forestry sector is also attempting to diversify conifer plantations by encouraging the planting of a wider range of species, as this will help them be more resilient in the face of environmental change.

And while we may cherish images of beautiful diverse woodland, rich with native tree species, the reality is that if we are to become more self-reliant on timber we need more productive forests, especially those planted with fast-growing and high-yielding conifers. We do need more wildlife-rich habitats to be created, and society will benefit from trees being planted closer to where people live and work, but neither activity will contribute much to carbon sequestration, or lower the timber miles in the paper industry. Sponsoring a community forest scheme or contributing to the restoration of Caledonian pine forest are truly worthy causes, but perhaps book industries might consider investing in commercial forestry, whether in the trees themselves or by working more closely with industry bodies to bolster sustainably-sourced and long-term supplies.

Green Credentials

The sustainability of timber supplies is an important issue. Consumers, authors and publishers increasingly recognise the benefits of sourcing paper from sustainably managed forests. The two main schemes acknowledged globally are the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). The two are similar standards, the main difference being that the FSC issues its own certificates��, while the PEFC works with third-party independent certification bodies. The conditions for certification are very stringent, dealing with the lifetime management of the trees in the forest, the extraction of timber and their replacement crop, all the way via chain of custody certificates to a final product. In the UK, 1.5Mha of forests are certified. Globally, some 95 million hectares of forests hold joint FSC and PEFC certifications. Neither scheme would claim to be perfect and both have faced public criticism in the media and elsewhere. To their credit, both have a track record of issuing comprehensive open responses so that consumers and others can come to their own conclusions.

It is important to note however that neither scheme is focussed on the location of the source, simply whether it has been sustainably procured. Concepts like ���timber miles��� or ���paper miles��� are therefore not considered. There is a scheme for home-grown timber products known as a Grown in Britain, but it does not currently include paper or paperboard products. If for instance a book sold in the UK uses FSC paper, but its paper was sourced in Canada and printed in China, this would have a vastly different carbon footprint than one produced for example with Scandinavian paper and printed in Germany. This is one reason why some environmentalists advocate for recycled paper, as this is likely to result in the lowest CO2 emissions. The SoA���s Tree to Me campaign, for instance, specifically promotes the use of recycled paper. I would disagree, however, with the campaign���s suggestion that the use of virgin paper inevitably results in negative impacts; if the source is certified by the FSC or PEFC then it will be from forests that are managed sustainably, and sustainably managed forests have been proven to promote biodiversity and can help provide jobs in rural communities. Arguments on sustainable plantations versus recycled paper aside, paper miles are a critical key issue ��� and I would strongly advocate for this concept to be added to the Tree to Me campaign, and for the industry to adopt standards meaning that the original source of paper could be considered together with the location of the printing operation.

Sowing Seeds for the Future

The advent of the paperless society has been often heralded, yet global consumption of paper continues to grow year on year. Authors have a part to play here. If our industry is to be put on a more sustainable footing, we must continue to push for global deforestation to be halted, and to advocate for our industry not to shy away from growing and felling trees in well-managed forests to produce sustainable timber and wood-based products ��� including the paper our words are printed on. At the same time, we must press for the idea of paper miles to be given greater recognition by the book industry. As they say in forestry, the seeds for the future need to be sown 50 years in the past.

The SoA���s Tree to Me campaign compliments the Publishing Association campaign Publishing Declares (publishingdeclares.com) and other initiatives such as the Green Book Alliance (greenbookalliance.org). Authors are encouraged to ask their publishers if they have signed up to any of these campaigns. In the UK, perhaps the ultimate credential for a publisher is to gain B Corp certification (bcorporation.net); this is perhaps the surest sign for author and reader alike that a publisher considers environmental sustainability as a fundamental part of its business.

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Month 4 of Project365

Days 93-122 (Month 4 | June 2024) of my 365-day challenge to capture and publish an original photograph every day, for 365 days.

The damp weather conditions continued this month but I’ve visited some wonderful forests while conducting fieldwork for my next book. Fortunately, although it’s often been wet, the skies have not always been grey and leaden. Sometimes heavy showers can bring dramatic light to a landscape, and even the odd rainbow. The conditions just present some challenges for a photographer. An umbrella has been indispensable!

This month my images include many taken around my home and work, with a few from further north in England, including the Peak District and the Lake District.

My personal favourite this month is probably Day 95 | The Scream. I love how dramatic the clouds appear but the real beauty lies in the flock of swifts (collective noun a ‘scream’) which is visible in the central pool of blue sky. Sadly, the image really needs to be seen in full resolution to appreciate the birds. It definitely didn’t come out so well on Instagram but remember you can check out my monthly gallery to see images in higher resolution. I hope you enjoy this new collection and I’d love to hear about your favourite too.

Check on my webpage where you can see the images in higher resolution: https://gabrielhemery.com/project365

Month 4 of Project365

Most of the images were captured with a Leica Q3, some taken in medium format with a Hassleblad X2D, and most of the wildlife shots with my Panasonic Lumix micro four-thirds equipment.

Visit my webpage for the project. There you’ll find higher resolution images organised into monthly galleries.

Project365 Photozine £9.99

A limited edition collector’s Photozine featuring 365 photographs taken between 1st March 2024 and 28th February 2025. Limited to 365 copies. Printed on quality 150gsm silk paper. 28 pages. Size A4. Personally numbered and signed by Gabriel Hemery, and embossed for authenticity. Available to pre-order today. Delivery March-April 2025.

In stock

Project365 Photozine quantity Add to basket SKU: pz365 Category: photozine, shopTags: photography, project365

2025 calendar available

I am delighted to reveal my new calendar for 2025 ‘Forests of Wales’ featuring treescapes across Wales. The calendar is now available to purchase.

Gabriel Hemery’s 2025 calendar Forests of Wales

The large format calendar features 13 original images, one for the front cover and 12 more unique images providing one for each of the months in 2025.

All images have been handpicked by me from the 200 or more photographs that will be included within The Forest Guide: Wales which is published by Bloomsbury in February next year. Captions are included which detail each location.

The calendar is A3 landscape, printed on 170gsm silk card.

Order early to avoid disappointment and to receive a discount! Find out more by visiting my Shop.

Forests of Wales 2025 Calendar £25.00 Add to basket

A Wild Vignette

The stream, the mayfly and the brown trout

I recently visited the spectacular Lathkill National Nature Reserve in the Derbyshire Dales in England. I was there conducting fieldwork for my last book (England) in The Forest Guide series publishing with Bloomsbury Wildlife. The woodland is terribly afflicted with ash dieback but nonetheless still full of birdsong, fluttering butterflies, and darting dragonflies.

The River Lathkill is a beautiful watercourse that flows through a steep-sided valley. Its waters are crystal clear. I stopped to watch a pair of mallards with a waddle of ducklings feeding on pondweed when I noticed several brown trout hiding under the trailing river vegetation.

I switched from my landscape gear to a telephoto lens hoping to capture a good image of one particularly large wild brown trout. I snapped a series of photos as it swam by and then rose to a mayfly which had just splashed onto the slow-flowing water. I was pleased with how these images came out and thought they’d be fun to make into a short film.

The fish is quite clearly visible below the surface, including its beautiful red and black spotted flanks. When it rises to the fly and breaks the surface of the water, its head is super sharp, revealing its eyes and teeth in fine detail. I also love the colours of the water and riverbed, and the abstract ripples of the water.

Read more about The Forest Guide series.

Visit the government’s Lathkill National Nature Reserve page.

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Explore 325 of the best woodlands in Wales

With the help of my next book in The Forest Guide series, readers will be able to enjoy exploring 325 of the best woodland sites across Wales, from spectacular scenery and rich wildlife, to hidden histories.

The first in the series featured 365 sites across Scotland and was published in 2023. I am pleased to announce that the next in the series will feature 325 sites across Wales. When the England guide is published in 2026, the total number of featured sites included in all three guides will be in excess of 1,000.

THE FOREST GUIDES

Work on The Forest Guide: Wales is progressing well. Publication is timetabled for early 2025, while the publishing team is looking to complete the book by August this year to meet this deadline. Subscribers to my regular newsletter will have seen the cover design finalised a couple of months ago. Meanwhile, I have completed a first review of the proofs, and I’m really pleased with how the book has come together. As usual the brilliant team at Bloomsbury have done a fabulous job.

Now that all 325 of the Wales sites have been finalised, I have added all of them to The Forest Guide Online. This is an interactive map of all the sites in the three-book series. If you’ve purchased one or other of the books you can access it for free. If you don’t want to purchase a copy of the book(s) or you are in a hurry, you can purchase access for the price of a couple of coffees! Click below to find out more.

Screenshot of The Forest Guide Online showing a zoomed-out look of the 690 woodland sites already detailed across Scotland and Wales.Find out more about The Forest Guide OnlinePlease note, I produced this short video last year before the Wales sites were added,The post Explore 325 of the best woodlands in Wales appeared first on Gabriel Hemery.