diff --git a/doc/figures/release-timeline-doodle-esmvalcore.png b/doc/figures/release-timeline-doodle-esmvalcore.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..13ffda711d
Binary files /dev/null and b/doc/figures/release-timeline-doodle-esmvalcore.png differ
diff --git a/doc/how-to/how-to-make-a-release.rst b/doc/how-to/how-to-make-a-release.rst
index d75e780b12..44d8667b28 100644
--- a/doc/how-to/how-to-make-a-release.rst
+++ b/doc/how-to/how-to-make-a-release.rst
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ release candidate to test the recipes in ESMValTool. If bugs are found
 during the testing phase of the release candidate, make as many release
 candidates for ESMValCore as needed in order to fix them.
 
+.. figure:: /figures/release-timeline-doodle-esmvalcore.png
+   :width: 95%
+   :align:   center
+
+   Example of a release timeline for ESMValCore (in this case for 2.11.0)
+
 To make a new release of the package, be it a release candidate or the final release,
 follow these steps: