Anton Baskerville of woodlands.co.uk explains what’s really going on beneath the canopy, and picks three of Britain’s finest forests for a family ramble
As the nights draw in and the evenings turn chilly, it’s tempting to stay curled up on the sofa. But head out to your local woods and you’ll find one of the busiest times of the year in full swing.
“Autumn is peak activity time,” says Anton. “The colour is spectacular, but look beyond it and you’ll see a woodland full of life, from fungi breaking down fallen material to squirrels and jays gathering acorns, and seeds being carried off by the wind and by wildlife.”
Behind the colours
As the days shorten and temperatures drop, deciduous trees start drawing nutrients back out of their leaves. The green chlorophyll breaks down, revealing the yellows, oranges and reds that were there all along. When the leaves eventually fall, they become part of the woodland’s own recycling system, feeding and sheltering insects and other small creatures before their nutrients return to the soil.
Fungi on the forest floor
This is prime time for spotting fungi too. Check around tree stumps, fallen branches and the woodland floor for mushrooms pushing through. “What we see above ground is only the fruiting body,” Anton explains. “Much of the fungus lives under the soil or inside wood, quietly breaking down dead material.” If little ones are keen to get hands-on, a good rule is to look and photograph rather than pick.
Clues in the leaves
Squirrels and jays are busy collecting acorns and stashing them away for the leaner months. They never find them all, and some of those forgotten acorns will sprout and grow into the next generation of oaks.
Even if you don’t spot a single animal, the evidence is everywhere: nibbled nuts, scuffed-up leaves, tracks, feathers and holes. Turning it into a detective game is a brilliant way to keep children curious all the way round a walk.
“That’s the magic of woodland,” says Anton. “You can walk through it at any time of year, but in autumn you can really see it changing gear.”
Three of Anton’s favourite autumn woodland walks
Ashdown Forest, East Sussex
Ancient woodland, open heathland and plenty of wildlife. Beech, oak and birch put on a fine show of colour, with miles of paths to wander. ashdownforest.org
Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire
Tucked within the North York Moors, Dalby has mile after mile of trails through native broadleaf and conifer woodland, and the changing colours are spectacular. forestryengland.uk/dalby-forest
Rothiemurchus Forest, Cairngorms
For something really special, head north. Rothiemurchus is part of the ancient Caledonian Forest, where Scots pine, mountains, lochs and low autumn light make for an extraordinary walk. rothiemurchus.net
Find out more about owning and caring for your own patch of woodland at woodlands.co.uk
