© Phil Pickin
This year we can expect a feast for our eyes as early as mid-September with impressive displays of vibrant autumn colours predicted by Forestry Commission England. This is great news for those who wish to give their wellbeing a boost before the winter months, with 96% of people saying that beautiful autumn colours improve their mood in a recent survey!Many of us were left feeling soggy at the start of the year and data from the Met Office confirms that parts of England experienced a wet spring, with rainfall 30% above average in the east and south.However, rain twinned with plenty of sunshine is a promising recipe for a spectacular show of seasonal color in England’s woods and forests. Perfect for the 68% of you that voted autumn as your favorite season in a recent survey carried out by Forestry Commission England.Andrew Smith, the Forestry Commission’s Director at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum in Gloucestershire explains:“The abundance of rain we experienced in spring, coupled with above average sunshine has meant a great growing season for trees as it allows them to build up plenty of sugars in their leaves. It is these sugars that produce the rich autumnal colours when they are absorbed back into the tree to help them survive winter”“Autumn’s foliage displays are certainly affected by the weather and this year we have our fingers crossed that it should be good for producing a great autumnal color display. It will depend a bit on the weather in September but the ground work has been laid for a good show.”Colour change starts to occur as the days become shorter and the evening temperatures are cooler. At this time the green chlorophyll in the leaves starts to disappear, exposing the yellow and orange hues. Sunny weather concentrates the sugar in the leaf which speeds up the appearance of red hues.Smith continues:“This year we predict that whilst we may see autumn colours from mid-September onwards, if the weather remains fairly dry then they will be at their best from mid to late October. If we experience a mild autumn we will also see prolonged color way into November”.“It is always entertaining trying to predict when autumn will fall and is something we indulge in every year at Westonbirt using past records and our experience built up over many years! However, we can never give a totally accurate prediction as nature has a habit of doing the unexpected. A harsh storm or a severe frost can easily put an end to a great autumn show.”To celebrate the start of nature’s most colourful season Forestry Commission England has created a ‘Colour me Happy’ trail. With lots of fun activities to help discover the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of autumn, the trail is designed to get you outside this autumn with a big colourful bang!During the season, Forestry Commission England is also encouraging visitors to woods and forests to document their autumn discoveries by posting images of autumnal color on social media channels using the hashtag #autumnleafwatch.For more information about exploring England’s national woods and forests this autumn, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/autumn.
