The idea of an almanac is not a new one. The first printed almanac recorded in Britain was in 1457, but the concept has been around since the ancient Egyptians and Greeks created calendars containing festival dates and days thought to be lucky and unlucky.
Now, almanacs come in many forms and are often used as a way of connecting with nature and the seasons in an increasingly disconnected society.
From Lia Leendertz's The Almanac 2024, which combines, folklore, gardening and seasonal recipes with the traditional moon and tide timetables to Dr Gabriel Hemery's Tree Almanac, we've chosen some of the best almanacs on the market to help you connect with nature and your garden in 2024.
Almanacs to buy for 2024
The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2024 by Lia Leendertz
Hailed as the original and best-selling guide to the year, Lia Leendertz's almanac has it all when it comes to connecting with the seasons and the natural world in Britain and Ireland.
Packed to the brim with seasonal inspiration, inside you'll find tide timetables, sunrises and sets and moon phases, garden feasts, wildlife and folklore as well as seasonal recipes.
The 2024 edition also focuses on the natural wonders of the garden, celebrating the flora and fauna on your doorstep, making it the perfect accompaniment to the gardening year.
The National Trust Gardener's Almanac 2024 by Greg Loades
The National Trust Gardener's Almanac would make the perfect gift for the green-fingered among your friends and family.
It is packed with inspiration, tips and trivia to help you make the most of the gardening year. It includes monthly how to guides and advice on what to prune, what to savour and a task to start. You'll also find a thrifty project for every month, as well as head gardener's notes and a wildlife spotlight.
The Gardener's Almanac also includes wisdom from famous gardeners past and present and tips on the best gardens to visit in each month.
RHS Garden Almanac
New for this year, the Royal Horticultural Society has launched the RHS Garden Almanac for 2024.
Including advice on what to do in the veg patch, seeds to sow, moonrise and set times and seasonal folktales, this book is the perfect accompaniment to the gardening year. You'll also find advice on gardening projects, such as how to build a hedgehog house and tips on identifying types of fungi.
Special features on what the RHS gardeners are working on each month are also included, providing valuable wisdom throughout the year.
The Gardener's Almanac by Alan Titchmarsh
From famed horticulturist Alan Titchmarsh, The Gardener's Almanac offers seasonal advice for growing, sowing, planting and spotting wildlife that can be used every year.
With his expert advice, The Gardener's Almanac includes month-by-month knowledge, facts, advice and inspiration. It also includes ideas on gardens to visit, birds and flowers to celebrate, weather notes and nature to reflect on in music, books and poems.
The Tree Almanac 2024 by Dr Gabriel Hemery
This seasonal guide to the woodland world is the perfect accompaniment to a year of forest walks.
Use forest scientist Dr Gabriel Hemery's illustrated month-by-month guide to uncover the majesty and minutiae of the arboreal world.
The book includes tree folklore and traditions, recipes and crafts, key dates, curiosities to spot, notes on wildlife and scientific marvels from the trees surrounding us.
