Photo credit: RSPB
Autumn is a time of leaves crunching underfoot as the low sun spreads out across an ocean of burnt orange foliage. A time of crouching beneath horse chestnut trees as you carefully split open spikey conker husks to find the prize inside. A time of fabulous fungi displays upon mossy floors and fallen tree trunks. All this and more can be found in our wonderful autumn forests.
Throughout the course of our partnership with the RSPB, holidaycottages.co.uk has pledged to help save these autumn forests by funding the restoration of approximately 895,000 square metres of woodland (to date). We do this by reestablishing 1 square metre of British woodland for every booking made with us, meaning that when you holiday, you are protecting our woodlands for future generations.
Read on to find out more about the beautiful autumn scenes you can find at two of the RSPB reserves we support, Glenborrodale and Gwenffrwd Dinas, as well as some autumnal events further afield.
Saving nature together
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Autumn at RSPB Glenborrodale
Photo credits: RSPB
Despite being located on a peninsula in the Highlands of Scotland, this temperate rainforest remains a lush and green sanctuary during the autumn and even into winter. This is due to the hundreds of species of moss, lichen and liverworts that retain their colour and smother the boulders, trees and the ground. The lichen and bryophyte species composition here is of international importance and these species, which thrive in the mild wet winter climate, define the rainforest.
However, this is not to say that autumn is altogether bypassed at this mild location. The mixture of vivid greens and golden autumnal colours gives the impression of a landscape constantly in a state of transformation; it’s a sight that can stay with you as a constant reminder of the magic of woodland metamorphosis.
Photo credits: RSPB
As the forest adjusts to the new season, the leaves that make up the canopy change colour and abandon the security of the branches to fall to the ground where they’ll be joined by acorns, conkers and pine cones. Of particular note are the stunning, shaking, shimmering leaves of the aspen as they turn from refreshing green to cheerful yellow. Why not branch out yourself and collect some leaves and seeds as part of an autumn family activity?
The kaleidoscope of colours isn’t limited to the leaves and trees though; look out for fungi starting to fruit. They come in all shapes and sizes – mostly, they are hidden from view but when the wet weather comes, they burst from the ground and tree stumps to show off their wonderful forms.
Photo credits: RSPB
Bird hides are ideal spots for sheltering from an autumnal shower – better even for eyeing a flock of long-tailed tits, fieldfares and redwings as they are passing through. And occasionally, you might hear skeins of geese migrating in their V-formations. Autumn is an excellent time of the year to see pink-footed geese on the move, whilst later in the year, you might be lucky enough to witness barnacle geese and Greenland white-fronted geese in the skies above.
Autumn at RSPB Gwenffrwd Dinas
Photo credits: RSPB
Pop on your wellies and head to Carmarthenshire for a bewitching woodland walk through the trees of alder and oak. Translated as fortress by the white stream, Gwenffrwd Dinas sits in a steep-sided valley blanketed in woodland and sliced by fast-flowing rivers. Another temperate rainforest, this reserve promises beautiful scenes during autumn and is great for spotting a wide variety of birds.
As the migrant birds depart Gwenffrwd Dinas for wintering grounds further south, they are replaced with flocks of winter thrushes including fieldfares and redwings which gorge on the berries of rowan and holly along the woodland edge. If you’re looking for an autumn craft activity to do with friends or family at your holiday cottage, why not make a bird feeder? Made from household items, these easy-to-make feeders will entice timid birds out of their hiding spots, especially in late autumn when food starts to become a little scarcer.
Photo credits: RSPB
A speciality of Gwenffrwd Dinas is frost flowers. You may not have heard of this extraordinary phenomenon that occurs on frosty mornings in autumn and winter, but it’s not one you’ll soon forget. As water freezes inside twigs and branches, it expands and escapes, forming delicate, exquisite patterns of ice which look just like sparkling, white flowers. In areas of the reserve where the low winter sun doesn't bring much warmth, these frost flowers can last throughout the day and make a cold autumn walk particularly rewarding.
Not that you need a reason to get out into the forest this autumn, what with the spectrum of colours, the birds and the frost flowers, but should you require even more motivation, you could consider getting involved in National Tree Week. Taking place from 23 November to 1 December, this late-autumn festival of nature from the Tree Council encourages you to have a tree party to celebrate our UK woodlands. There are plenty of activities perfect for an autumn forest walk, including making leaf crowns, creating autumn rainbows and playing ‘identify the tree’.
RSPB autumn events
Photo credit: RSPB
Speaking of activities, you’ll find plenty of scope for leisurely endeavours across the RSPB’s network of over 200 reserves. Relish the opportunity to experience the change in seasons across a range of unique landscapes whilst immersing yourself in an autumn activity. Check out some of the upcoming events to fully appreciate autumn at a reserve near your holiday cottage.
RSPB reserves are some of the best places to visit in autumn, especially when you can learn and connect with nature under the guidance of a nature expert. Head to Suffolk and RSPB Lakenheath Fen to take part in their Amazing Autumn Guided Walk where two knowledgeable volunteers will lead you through the marshland to discover ducks with new plumage and possibly whooper swans returning to the reserve.
Photo credit: RSPB
Autumn in the Forest is an event that takes place in Gloucestershire over the autumn period. Firstly, in October, make your way to RSPB Nagshead for an autumnal morning walk spotting rutting deer, fungi, wild boar and seasonal birds. Then, if you still have the need for seed, head northeast to RSPB Highnam Woods in November for more signs of autumn in the woodlands as well as searching for the elusive hawfinch or lesser-spotted woodpecker.
If forest bathing is your kind of thing, you might also enjoy the Autumn Sensory Walk at RSPB Fairburn Ings in West Yorkshire. This 2-hour guided walk in October gives you a chance to slow down and reconnect with yourself and nature. Take your time and immerse yourself in your surroundings as you become engulfed by the sounds and smells of the forest; this walk is all about tranquillity and savouring each and every moment.
Photo credit: RSPB
Return to Suffolk and RSPB Minsmere where, from September through to November, you can discover the reserve's magnificent autumnal colours and impressive wildlife including vibrant fungi and fluttering butterflies. Book a ticket and enjoy a free hot drink in the cafe afterwards to warm up.
Saving nature together
By restoring 1 square metre of British woodland for every booking made with us, we’re helping the RSPB to revive natural habitats across woodland reserves throughout the UK. If you’re interested in volunteering and helping the RSPB, read our blog on preserving our UK wildlife during autumn and winter.
In the meantime, why not treat yourself to a stay at one of our holiday cottages near an RSPB reserve and get fully immersed in nature?
Cottages near RSPB reserves