Ode to Autumn

In this strangest of years, the changing of the seasons is a reassuring constant. Let’s embrace the start of autumn

- Emma Ward

The pandemic has left a lot of us rather bewildered and wondering what’s in store for us next, but one constant that never alters is the turning of the seasons.

As summer melts into autumn, we can begin to see signs of the changes ahead in the leaves on the trees and the distinct autumn chill that accompanies the last of summer evenings spent outdoors.

If you want to make the most of autumn 2020 but are not sure where to start, here are some ideas from the National Trust.

Leaf spotting

Autumn leaves are the jewel in the crown of many National Trust countryside areas and gardens’ attractions and September is the perfect time to spot the first summer greens turning into fiery reds, yellows and golds.

Kent has a number of autumn leaf-spotting idylls, including Emmetts Garden in Westerham and Ightham Mote in Ivy Hatch. Why not collect some fallen leaves and take them home to press and turn into an autumnal artwork?

Fungi foraging