Top Spots For Autumn Colour

From the newsdesk at the Forestry Commission:

Don’t miss out on the beautiful colours as autumn comes early this year  - Top Ten Spots For Autumn Colour

Visitors are being encouraged to get out now and see the glorious autumn colours as they have arrived early this year, according to the Forestry Commission’s Westonbirt Arboretum Director Simon Toomer: “Autumn is a magical time of year and one of the best times to go for a day out in the woods. But this year we have been noticing that the leaves are already changing and autumn colours are arriving earlier than usual by nearly three weeks.”

Simon added: “Westonbirt Arboretum’s famous Japanese maples usually colour during mid to late October but are already starting to change now. There are many reasons why this is happening. The over-riding reason is day length but a number of other climatic factors such as a dry spring make a big difference. Due to this year’s dry spring the land was left extremely dry and we are seeing the delayed affects of this through drought stress. Obviously this can vary across England but I understand that areas of the Midlands are also already starting to see colour as well.”

To celebrate this special time of year, Forestry Commission England has named its top ten places to experience the sensory delights of autumn. From the ‘electric light bulb’ yellow of autumn leaves at Westonbirt to the amazing view from the Tree Top Way at Salcey Forest. Top spots include:

1. Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire 
2. Friston Forest in East Sussex
3. Bedgebury Pinetum in Kent
4. The Wye Valley in the Forest of Dean
5. Salcey Forest, near Northampton
6. Maulden Woods in Bedfordshire
7. Grizedale Forest, Cumbria, North West England
8. Castle Neroche near Taunton, Somerset
9. Bolderwood, New Forest
10. Mendip sites, Somerset 

This year, members of the public can also follow how quickly woodlands are changing colour using the Forestry Commission's interactive online autumn colour map. It’s easy to find the best colour near you, as each wood is rated from green to golden. As the leaves change colour visitors can leave comments and rate their local woodland.

Why don't you add your autumn photos to the Forestry Commission's facebook page or send a gorgeous autumn e-card to your friends and family?  Check our the new autumn website pages at www.forestry.gov.uk/autumn