James Aldred grew up on the edge of the New Forest & spent his teenage years exploring it. By 15 he was building forest shelters, sleeping rough in the woods & spending much of his time up in the branches of trees. These days, he works in the treetops as an Emmy award-winning wildlife cameraman working regularly with National Geographic and the BBC, collaborating on many landmark natural history programmes with David Attenborough. He is also the author of The Man Who Climbs Trees and Goshawk Summer, for which he won the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing 2022.

In his evocative memoir, A Wagon in the Woods Aldred chronicles his return to a cherished childhood landscape, rich with the history of the Romani families who once roamed freely there. As he painstakingly restores the wagon, Aldred delves into both the New Forest's natural history and storied past, tracing its roots back to the 16th century and even further to the time of William the Conqueror. Camera traps reveal otters hunting in the brook, while the nearby goshawk nest and fox earth speak to the area's thriving wildlife.

Alistair is a travel author, artist and explorer. He has lived and travelled with Inner Asian and Sahelian nomads, and has lectured about these journeys on both sides of the Atlantic. His art is in international and private collections, and he exhibits at solo and group shows.

Unreserved seating.