Forest Walking - by Peter Wohlleben & Jane Billinghurst (Paperback)

About the Book

"When you walk in the woods, do you use all five senses to explore your surroundings? For most of us, the answer is no--but when we do engage all our senses, a walk in the woods can go from pleasant to immersive and restorative. Forest Walking teaches you how to get the most out of your next adventure by becoming a forest detective, decoding nature's signs and awakening to the ancient past and thrilling present of the ecosystem around you. What can you learn by following the spread of a root, by tasting the tip of a branch, by searching out that bitter almond smell? What creatures can be found in a stream if you turn over a rock--and what is the best way to cross a forest stream, anyway? How can you understand a forest's history by the feel of the path underfoot, the scars on the trees along the trail, or the play of sunlight through the branches? How can we safely explore the forest at night? What activities can we use to engage children with the forest? Throughout Forest Walking, the authors share experiences and observations from visiting forests across North America: from the rainforests and redwoods of the west coast to the towering white pines of the east, and down to the cypress swamps of the south and up to the boreal forests of the north. With Forest Walking, German forester Peter Wohlleben teams up with his longtime editor, Jane Billinghurst, as the two write their first book together, and the result is nothing short of spectacular. Together, they will teach you how to listen to what the forest is saying, no matter where you live or which trees you plan to visit next."--

Book Synopsis

Awaken your senses and make the most out of your next walk in the woods--with Peter Wohlleben, New York Times-bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees.

"This book will fast-track you into the joys of spending time amongst the trees."--Tristan Gooley, author of The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs and How to Read Water

"You'll be changed after reading this fine and enchanting book."--Richard Louv, author of Our Wild Calling and Last Child in the Woods

When you walk in the woods, do you use all five senses to explore your surroundings? For most of us, the answer is no--but when we do, a walk in the woods can go from pleasant to immersive and restorative. Forest Walking teaches you how to engage with the forest by decoding nature's signs and awakening to the ancient past and thrilling present of the ecosystem around you.

• What can you learn by following the spread of a root, by tasting the tip of a branch, by searching out that bitter almond smell?
• What creatures can be found in a stream if you turn over a rock--and what is the best way to cross a forest stream, anyway?
• How can you understand a forest's history by the feel of the path underfoot, the scars on the trees along the trail, or the play of sunlight through the branches?
• How can we safely explore the forest at night?
• What activities can we use to engage children with the forest?

Throughout Forest Walking, the authors share experiences and observations from visiting forests across North America: from the rainforests and redwoods of the west coast to the towering white pines of the east, and down to the cypress swamps of the south and up to the boreal forests of the north.

With Forest Walking, German forester Peter Wohlleben teams up with his longtime editor, Jane Billinghurst, as the two write their first book together, and the result is nothing short of spectacular. Together, they will teach you how to listen to what the forest is saying, no matter where you live or which trees you plan to visit next.

Review Quotes

"[An] enlightening look at the power of forests ... [P]oetic and full of marvels ... readers will be encouraged by the authors' insistence that a simple walk is all one needs to find adventure. This beautifully written homage will have readers ready to get outside."
--Publisher's Weekly STARRED Review

"A treasury of ideas, encouragements, and insights for all who wish to befriend trees and forests."
--David George Haskell, author of The Forest Unseen and The Songs of Trees

"A wonderfully clear and practical guide for all ages. This book will fast-track you into the joys of spending time amongst the trees and their rich communities."
--Tristan Gooley, bestselling author of The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs and How to Read Water

"You'll be changed after reading this fine and enchanting book. On every walk you take, you'll sense this other world and feel that the forest is walking with you."
--Richard Louv, author of Our Wild Calling and Last Child in the Woods

"With wisdom and affection, Wohlleben and Billinghurst have written an eminently practical, delightful, and science-infused invitation for readers to explore the woods in a wholly new way."
--Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix

"The forest is more than a place, it is also an experience. Forest Walking suggests how to see, hear, taste, smell, survive, and enjoy the forest in ways that will immeasurably deepen your experience."
--Joan Maloof, author of Treepedia

"Forest Walking is a wonderful starting point for understanding forests in a direct and personal way--a journey I hope many will embark on soon."
--David Moskowitz, author of Caribou Rainforest

"How do you go for a walk in the woods? With characteristic exuberance, Peter Wohlleben and co-author Jane Billinghurst answer this seemingly simple question, offering readers new ways of seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, and even tasting the forest. Through their eyes, trees and their countless living companions are not merely the backdrop to our outdoor adventures, but the main attraction."
--Zach St. George, author of The Journeys of Trees

"This is not a book. It is a love letter. For the trees themselves, for their forests, for their decomposers, their lichens, their mosses, and even for those people whose incomes depend on destroying them. It is also a love letter for the next generation of humans who will come to understand that forests are the lungs of the world. And that we must protect them in all their complexity if we wish to protect ourselves...from ourselves... in all our complacency. The book should not be read while walking. It should be read while sitting. Then the walker should walk. Then read it again. And think..."
--Doug W. Larson, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, an expert in ancient woodlands

"In Forest Walking, forester Peter Wohlleben and nature enthusiast Jane Billinghurst have produced the Swiss army knife of forest information. Here is a squirrel's hoard of amazing facts about how plants and animals cooperate and communicate, coupled with advice on how to pause and truly see, how to introduce these wonders to children and adults, and how to hike, camp, and even brave the trail at night. Fun to read, and an invaluable handbook and reference."
--William Dietrich, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and author of The Final Forest

"A profound invitation to fine-tune our observational skills and fully appreciate the forest as a vibrant, complex community."--Donna Seaman, Booklist

About the Author

Called a "veritable tree whisperer" by the Wall Street Journal, Peter Wohlleben is one of the world's most notable foresters and a passionate advocate for tree conservation. Wohlleben lives in Germany, where he manages an ecologically conscious forest and runs a Forest Academy for education and advocacy. His books are bestsellers in countries around the world. To learn more about Peter and his books, visit his website at peterwohllebenbooks.com.

Jane Billinghurst is a nature lover, master gardener, editor, translator, and author of six books. She has translated and edited several books by Peter Wohlleben, including the New York Times bestseller The Hidden Life of Trees. She lives in Anacortes, Washington, next to 2,800 acres of community forest lands.