BSc Wales, DPhil Oxford, CEnv, MIEEM, FICFor
Dr Gabriel Hemery is a British forest scientist, author, and conservation leader whose work bridges ecological research, sustainable woodland management, and public engagement with the natural world. He is co-founder and Chief Executive of the Sylva Foundation, a charity established in 2009 to advance evidence-based forestry and promote a thriving wood culture across Britain.
He earned his DPhil at the University of Oxford, specialising in the genetics and silviculture of walnut (Juglans regia), and went on to lead the development of the UK’s first dedicated hardwood forestry research centre at Paradise Wood. His academic contributions include more than 90 scientific and technical articles, with research spanning tree improvement, climate-change adaptation, and nationwide surveys of woodland ownership and management.
Gabriel is widely known for his writing. The New Sylva (Bloomsbury, 2014), co-authored with artist Sarah Simblet, reinterprets John Evelyn’s 1664 classic for modern readers. His other works include The Forest Guide series, the Tree Almanac series, and tree field guides, plus a range of fiction, poetry, and nature writing focused on trees and woodland culture.
A Chartered Environmentalist and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, Gabriel is active in helping shape national strategy on resilient woodland management in a changing climate.