Autumn woodlands

Autumn is a time of hunting for conkers, kicking through great drifts of fallen leaves, roasting chestnuts, and roaring bonfires. The woodlands are transforming; the once green leaves taking on fiery shades; bursts of red and purple berries and shiny brown acorns and nuts tempting thrushes and squirrels. Winter is around the corner, so everyone is making the most of the last warm days, and what better place to do that than in one of our wonderful woods?

With woodland sites throughout the UK, you're spoilt for choice! Our favourites are Belfairs & Daws Heath Living Landscape in Essex, which is a series of woodland reserves, and Dunsford nature reserve in Devon, which looks stunning in autumn thanks to the fabulous range of tree species between the riverbank and the steep valley sides – and you can walk quite a long way on riverbank footpaths in the Teign valley, north-east Dartmoor.

In the woods the red deer are bellowing in their annual rut; jays are screeching back and forth, hoarding acorns for the winter to come; busy flocks of tits tumble through the canopy, always hungry, always moving; the ivy flowers are a-buzz with hoverflies, wasps, honey bees, and the last red admiral of the season. Autumn woods are wonderful places: just be prepared for an adventure. 

There are woods close at hand for everyone. Get out to your local woodlands and enjoy them!

From seeing colourful wildflowers to spotting magnificent birds of prey, we can help you get closer to wildlife across the UK.