We the Forest

We the Forest is an illustrated book for young readers that blends science with contemporary art to introduce the forests of the UK. It aims to "rewild the imagination" by helping children see the wonder of forests anew. The text draws on detailed research and resources from Forestry England, the organization that has spent more than 100 years growing, shaping and caring for over 1,500 of the UK's forests, and it explains the complexity of the forest ecosystem in clear terms.

Recent scientific discoveries show that the forest is connected more deeply than anyone imagined. The book explores how all life in the forest is linked, and how people are connected to and depend on forests. Its text conveys the magic of woodlands, from the way trees communicate to their powers of regeneration and their role in protecting the planet, alongside commissioned illustrations.

Artworks inspired by forests run throughout, including pieces by Marshmallow Laser Feast, Jeff Frost and Versia Harris and other contemporary artists. Readers can learn to speak in "tree" using Katie Holten's tree alphabet, look through Levon Biss's lens to see how a giant beetle would appear, or take in the terrible beauty of forest fires in Jeff Frost's photographs. Interactive elements encourage children to start creative projects of their own.