The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2026

by Lia Leendertz

The original and bestselling almanac

Reconnect with the seasons in Britain and Ireland with this month-by-month guide to the world around us - including tide tables, sunrises and moon phases; wildlife and folklore; seasonal recipes and more.

The A Seasonal Guide to 2026 gives you the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark and appreciate each month of the year in your own particular way.

Divided into the 12 months, a set of tables each month gives it the feel and weight of a traditional almanac, providing practical information that gives access to the outdoors and the seasons, perfect for expeditions, woodland foraging and beach holidays. And it's the ideal gift!

You will find yourself referring to The Almanac all year long, revisiting it again and again, and looking forward to the next edition as the year draws to a close.

PRAISE FOR THE
'Lia Leendertz's classic almanac never fails to delight' - The Herald
'It's a perfect Christmas present' - Allan Jenkins, The Observer
'The perfect companion to the seasons' - India Knight
'Indispensable' - Sir Bob Geldof
'This book is your bible' - The Independent
'I love this gem of a book' - Cerys Matthew

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature

288 pages, Hardcover

Published August 28, 2025

About the author

Lia Leendertz is a gardener and writer. She writes about gardening, growing food and cooking, and her work has appeared in for the Telegraph, the Guardian, Gardens Illustrated, The Garden, and Simple Things magazine. She publishes an annual garden almanac.

Reviews

[Alison Brook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will be my reference for 2026, so it is not completely read, but January was beautiful. I even looked up the song on YouTube, so I could hear it played and sing along. A beautiful guide for a nature-filled, spiritual 2026.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in nature, tides and the solar system then this is a fantastic little hardback book containing so much information. I have a 2025 book and and have enjoyed following the seasons month by month.

The author explains that each year she chooses a different spot for sunrise and sunset times and this year Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire was chosen as its position in the centre of the National Forest (and also at the heart of England) sits with the book’s theme.

This year’s theme is forests and trees and together with detailed monthly information about species and seasons, there are woodland themed folklore and fairy tales, a song for each month, sunrise and sunset times, the moon phases and useful gardening advice which can be either be aligned to the moon phases or just as a helpful task list. I love reading the folklore tales and some of the recipes are very tempting – one being Brown Sugar and Hazelnut Meringue with Poached Plums.

With built in month page tabs and a matching ribbon marker it really is a very informative and user-friendly book. Black and white illustrations are contained throughout and the endpapers are made up of a 2026 calendar. The quality of both the book itself and contents is excellent and it would make a super gift. I have to mention the covers, they are absolutely beautiful, and on this one the gold ferns and leaves really pop, the picture doesn’t do it justice.

[Kelly Hollingworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where have I been? I have never come across this absolute treasure of a book before and now I am hooked forever. I have always enjoyed the seasons, the cycle of the moon, the stars and the changes in nature and here, in this perfectly sized book, is information about all of these and so much more. I loved the recipes, the beautiful illustrations, the notes and tips on the woodlands and most of all the mantras. There is so much in this compact book, set out in a logical month by month layout, all within the most wonderful cover.

I will be buying this book every year for myself from now on and I have two friends who I know will love it too. One is a walker and will enjoy the details about all of the woodland references and the other regularly takes his son camping and will appreciate the night sky, moon phases and sunrise information. A wonderful gift, this is a book for all seasons and about all seasons. I loved it.

[Hannah May Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first, this book is simply gorgeous, the cover and art work throughout is simply stunning. So praise for the wonderful artists involved too. I found the lovely diagrams throughout not only to be eye catching, but they were really useful for visualising too. I did wonder sometimes, if things would have been better in colour, such as the trees and foraging fauna to help with further identification but I understand why this may not have been a possibility.

I adore the moon, so I loved that this Almanac included the phases of the moon and the guide for the upcoming full moons will be something I keep turning back to, especially as each full moon had a lovely little mantra to go with it.

If you love gardening, this one is for you, as it has some very useful tips and tricks throughout for each month. I’m not a keen gardner myself, but when I try to spruce up my little garden next year, I’ll be finding myself returning to this read for some hints.

I am a qualified Forest School leader, but out of practice at the moment, so I loved the recipe tips and the different fire lays, as again this is something that could really be beneficial to my practise in future.

This book brought some fantastic learning opportunities too, such as I never realised birch sap could be harvested and that April is the ideal time to be in the woods. There was so much to take on board in this one little book.

Informative yet comforting too, it just highlighted how amazing our natural world really is. Definitely a book I will be referred back to throughout next year.

[Narinder Gore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Almanac is a wonderful book to keep you focused through 2026! Each month is marked by the key events. I particularly liked that there were events from each culture highlighted- like Lohri which is a punjabi festival in January!

Each month also has a mantra (see below for a sneak peak into January's mantra), a recipe to try, a song for each month and a woodland skill to ground you to the world we live in! Along with a story for each month and of course it covers the moon phases 😍🌖🌕🌔🌗

I can't wait to use this as my monthly spiritual guide from January! It will make the best Christmas present ! It's also such a stunning book too ❤️❤️

January's mantra:

I anchor myself and dream into my depths.
I remember who I am and call all parts of me home.
From this place I tend to my boundaries and nourish my body and soul.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a pretty book to have in your bag or bedside table. Beautiful folk stories, recipes. The theme is trees this year, so lots of guides on woodland skills as well as the moon phases, sunrises and tides.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely lovely read to prepare for the year ahead. something I'll keep dipping into.