Spectacular autumn of bright, fiery colours on the way, gardeners say

The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is likely to be particularly vivid this year, with the combination of a sun-drenched summer and a rainy September causing excellent conditions for autumn colour in many of Britain's gardens.

- Steven Morris

Experts at the National Trust are predicting a long, gradual wave of reds and yellows, with the warm conditions meaning annuals and herbaceous perennials are having a second flush, adding to the bright palette.

A mast year of abundant acorns, conkers and hedgerow fruit may be good news for wildlife. There are also reports of bountiful fungi and berries in many places.

John Deakin, the head of trees and woodland at the trust, said: "Autumn is such a pivotal moment in the calendar, shorter days combined with normally cooler temperatures and changes to rainfall patterns all contributing to the vivid sylvan scenes of ochres, oranges, red and yellows we love and associate with the season.