As October marches on, the reds, yellows, purples, and russets are beginning to deepen in hue and, when the clouds roll away, they gleam in the sunshine.

"It could be really great autumn," said the head gardener, Jess Evans, as she surveyed the scene at the National Trust property on the outskirts of Tiverton.

Good sunny spells in the spring and summer followed by bursts of rain in September means this could be a particularly fine autumn for color.

It is good news for a growing band of UK "leaf peepers", to borrow an American term, who are discovering pleasure and comfort in the turning of the seasons, especially at this most difficult of times.

"I think people are finding joy outdoors at the moment," Evans said. "This last burst of color feels all the more important this autumn."

From the path above the pool, Evans pointed out the acers, which add vivid reds and orange to the scene, and the spindle bushes glowing an extraordinary pink.

Evans is also a bark fan. The gentler, lower light means the subtle orange of the bark high on the trunk of the Scots pines is picked out more clearly.

And it is not just a visual treat. The toffee apple trees have rich yellow heart-shaped leaves with red veins running through them – but also give off a wonderful sweet smell. “We took the leaves indoors once to see if they’d still give off that scent but it vanished,” said Evans.

Simon Toomer, the National Trust’s national specialist for plant conservation, said he believed leaf-peeping – or momijigari as it called in Japan – is becoming more of a staple in British life.

“I think it’s important not to lose touch with the seasons. You can be disappointed if you suddenly realize a season has passed by without you noticing,” he said.

During the lockdown, the National Trust launched a hugely successful spring blossom watch. Toomer likened the spread of autumn in northern Europe to natural phenomena such as the wildebeest migration.

“This band of orange and red passes from the Arctic to the Mediterranean,” he said. “You can see it from space. It’s extraordinary.”

Gardens, parks, and woods across the UK are reporting good color and strong visitor numbers.

Forestry England’s Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire enjoyed its busiest ever summer despite people having to pre-book and up to 100,000 visitors are expected this October.

Andrew Smith, the Westonbirt director, said the creators of the gardens had made sure every autumn is spectacular. “I’ve been struck at the nuts and berries this year,” said Smith. Drifts of sea buckthorn at Westonbirt are dotted with iridescent orange berries while the red berries of the Japanese strawberry trees are also stunning.

The conkers are also abundant, prompting staff to organize an internal, socially-distanced conker competition.

Over in the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley, tourist chiefs have produced a leaf-peeping guide. It promotes leaf-peeping breaks in woodland cottages and cabins and has designed a 50-mile leaf-peeping drive through the region, billed as the first of its kind in the UK.

In west London, Tony Kirkham, the head of the arboretum, gardens, and horticultural services at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has been keeping a close eye on the American ash and hickories. The former, one of the first trees to turn, is already showing off lovely purple leaves while the latter is now a buttery yellow.

Two weeks ago, Kirkham felt the autumn color would be nothing special. “It was dry and the trees were stressed. But there has been a lot of rain since then, which will help. If there is a little more sunshine followed by cold, but not freezing nights, and no big winds, the show could be one of the best.”

27 days to save the Earth …

… we’re all in. Are you? On November 4, a day after the presidential election, the US will formally withdraw from the Paris agreement on constraining global heating. It’s urgent that we tell the world what this means, and the Guardian is pulling out all the stops to do so.

Amid all the crises we’ve faced in 2020, we must continue to recognize the climate crisis as the defining emergency of our times, and give it the sustained attention and prominence it demands.

One year ago, the Guardian made a pledge in service of the planet. Today we have an update for you – on our progress so far, and on our commitments for the future.

In these chaotic, perilous times, an independent, truth-seeking news organization like the Guardian is essential. We have no shareholders or billionaire owners, meaning our journalism is free from bias and vested interests – this makes us different. Our independence and autonomy allow us to provide fearless investigations and analysis of those with political and commercial power.

We believe quality, trustworthy reporting like this on the environment is an important tool with which to confront the climate emergency. That’s why we provide journalism that reflects the urgency of the crisis and is always led by science and truth. And we keep it open and free for everyone to read, so more people can be better informed and inspired to take action..

Our open, independent reporting on the environment is read by millions every day, from all corners of the globe. Thousands of you support us financially after reading these pieces, telling us that you too care deeply about the future of the planet, wildlife, and humanity.

If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Your support funds our work financially and motivates us to do better, investigate deeper, challenge more. You protect our independence for the long term and ensure we can remain open for all to read.

Today we’d like to ask you to show your support for Guardian journalism. Every contribution, however big or small, makes a real difference for our future.

source: theguardian.com