Changing leaves and the magical colours of autumn: when, why and where

Autumn is my favourite season for many reasons, but the spectacular colours are definitely up there. Since it’s halfway through September (no, I don’t know where it’s gone either!), the leaves will soon start to fall, so it’s high time to get out and enjoy the autumnal colours!

 Why do trees change colour in the autumn?

Hang on, science lesson incoming!

The green colour of leaves comes from chlorophyll, the chemical which plants use to absorb energy from sunlight. However, as the days draw in and we get less daylight in autumn, trees produce less chlorophyll, this means that we can see the other pigments in the leaves – carotenoids and xanthophylls, which provide those gorgeous autumnal oranges and yellows.

Photo by Jen-Shemmings-Payne

Sometimes you’ll see bright red leaves, these are a bit more complicated, and are caused by chemicals called anthocyanins. These are released by the tree as it pulls the last of the nutrients out of the leaves and back into the branches. Anthocyanins are released more when the weather has been sunny and dry which is why some years have more vibrant red trees than others. 

Fun fact: This is also thought to be why New England trees are much more vibrantly red than their UK counterparts due to our generally dreary, damper days.

During all of this, trees are sealing off the leaves ready to drop them. You might think this is kind of unnecessary, as they’ll need to replace the leaves in spring but it helps the tree conserve energy and moisture through the winter. Bare branches also present less resistance to the wind, so dropping leaves means that winter storms are less likely to damage the tree.

Autumn coloured trees from above
Photo by Craig Bradford on Unsplash

If you’re wondering about conifers, these technically have needles instead of leaves which are slightly different and are much more adapted for the cold of winter and are small enough to not cause as much damage when it gets windy.

When do tree leaves change colour in the autumn?

So now we know why, lets look at the when. Leaves start to change colour from mid-September, when shorter days and falling temperatures are usually enough to trigger trees to start preparing for winter. Although the change can start from mid-September, the peak in autumnal colours is usually from the end of the month and through October and November. Not long to go now!

Photo by Chris Flexen on Unsplash

Where to see pretty autumnal colours?

You can see autumnal colours anywhere there are a good number of trees, our local urban park is spectacular through the autumn. If you’re looking for something a bit more special, then here are 5 places to add to your autumn bucket list:

1 – New Forest, Hampshire. Starting off strong with the UK’s second largest forest, the New Forest has lots of trails to explore and thousands of trees to appreciate, try the Knightwood Oak trail to check out the largest oak tree in the New Forest. Autumn is also a great time to see wild pigs foraging for acorns amongst the trees.

2 – Kew Gardens, London. Kew is known for its glasshouses, but its arboretum is home to 14,000 trees which make a wonderful autumnal display and the Treetop Walkway is a great place to see the autumn colours up close. If a guided tour is more your style then they have a free tree tour every day.

3 – Glen Affric, Scotland. Glen Affric is often called one of the most beautiful glens in Scotland and that’s just as true in autumn. Home to large numbers of Caledonian pine trees, the dark green mixes with the autumn colours to create stunning vistas! Bonus points if you get a calm day and can see the trees reflected in the loch.

Photo by K B on Unsplash

4- Grizedale Forest, Cumbria. Nearly 25km2 of forest filled with walking and cycling trails, Grizedale Forest is a great place to watch the autumn colours develop. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can get a treetop view from the Go Ape course, or maybe zoom round the local trails on a segway.

5 – Stourhead Gardens, Wiltshire. Run by the National Trust, Stourhead Gardens are spectacular at any time of year but autumn is the time to visit. The 5 mile King Alfred’s Tower walk takes you though some of the mixed ancient woodland, and a visit to the landscape garden isn’t to be missed as here you can see the autumnal colours reflected in the lake.

 

Photo by Marcus Woodbridge on Unsplash

Where’s your favourite place to go see autumnal colours? Was it on my list? Let me know in the comments.

 

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