Although it is often sad to say goodbye to the outdoorsy days of summer, there’s much to enjoy as nature calls ‘All Change!’ and the spectacle of Autumn begins.
We’ve got lots of ideas of how to make the most of the season – embrace the sights, smells and tastes of Autumn.
When is Autumn? When blackberries
are bursting, ivy flowers,
evenings draw in,
leaves flame-a-fire.
All’s damp and earthy,
spun by spiders’ webs,
stubbled fields laid bare,
and fog descends.
By Sarah Acton, taken from our Seasons of Stories Autumn book
Great for walks & picnics, Easy access
Wooded hill in Bridport, great for wearing out the kids - or the dog! - picnics and peace.
Walks
Gentle walks through the trees and meadows of this Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve.
History & heritage, Good for walking & families, Friends, Dog walkers
Woods, Walks, Wildlife
A magical pocket of mixed woodland and heath close to Dorchester
walks
Outstanding views over the Blackmore Vale and beyond. A tranquil place to explore.
Good chance of seeing deer, Walks, Wildlife
You don’t need to travel far to enjoy the changing colours of autumn. Take a closer look at the street or park trees and hedgerows where you live and you’ll find some real jewels of autumn colour.
It’s not just leaves that are bringing colour to our lives this season – look out for the bright reds, blues, pinks and oranges of berries too.
While we lose many birds who are travelling to warmer climates for the winter, there are plenty of birds arriving in Dorset, travelling for thousands of miles to enjoy Dorset’s milder temperatures.
Look out for fieldfare and redwing flying here from Scandinavia (and gorging on autumn berries when they get here!). And if it gets very cold we might see waxwings arriving.
Autumn is the best time of year to find fungi – the warm and damp conditions at this time of year suit them best. Head out to the woods … or even to your park, garden or yard … and you’re bound to find a few of the 15,000 species of fungi growing in Britain.
Jelly Ears, Penny Buns, Stinkhorns, Devils Fingers and Magpie Inkcaps are just some of the fungi waiting to be discovered this autumn!
October is peak apple season – having ripened with the summer sun and plumped up with the recent rains, they are ripe for picking and already dropping off the trees.
Dorset has had a very long love affair with apples, so it’s no surprise that Dorset cider and Dorset Apple Cakes are so popular here.
Who doesn’t love getting their wellies on for the first time after a long hot summer? Here are some more lovely places to explore in the Autumn – wellies will be needed soon as mud is on it’s way!
History & heritage
Castle heritage & steam train rides, Walks, Great views
Jurassic Coast, Good for walking & families, History & heritage, Great views
Walking, swimming and views
Escape the crowds at this quiet shingle beach on the Jurassic Coast.
Amazing coastal views, Good for walking & families
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
Great views
An iconic hill in West Dorset, recognisable for its conical shape with a tuft of trees at the top.
Great for sealife & geology, Good for walking & families, Wildlife, Great views
Good for walking and families, Family with young ones, Culture, Easy access
The poem above is just one of the many beautifully illustrated poems and stories – this one by Sarah Acton – from our Stepping into Nature ‘Autumn’ book.
The book is a collection of autumnal themes, which will help you connect with nature without the need to step outside, so is perfect for those that find it difficult to get outdoors.
