The National Trust has predicted a reversal of last year's dull autumn, with brighter displays of reds, ambers, yellows, and browns expected across the UK. The wet summer has relieved trees from the drought stress experienced in 2022, setting the stage for a vibrant season.
Andy Jasper, head of gardens and parklands at the National Trust, said the UK is about to be wrapped in a 'warm blanket' of beautiful colours. He noted that the autumn spectacle is likely to start in Scotland, where temperatures drop fastest, followed by northern England, Northern Ireland, and then a domino effect down to the south-west.
Glendurgan in Cornwall, the Trust's most southerly garden, hopes for a spectacular display after last year's poor season. Head gardener John Lanyon highlighted that swamp cypresses will turn copper, contrasting with the garden's tulip tree planted almost 200 years ago, which turns golden yellow. Red oaks will add a touch of fire.
Tom Hill, a tree adviser for south-east England, expressed hope for the first 'normal autumn' in a while, noting that older trees in London are vulnerable to prolonged droughts. Luke Barley, national trees and woodland adviser, said woodlands are resilient but stressed by successive droughts and warm winters, making them susceptible to diseases like acute oak decline.
Barley also reported a bumper year for berries due to lack of late frosts and ample summer rainfall, benefiting wildlife such as over-wintering birds, hedgehogs, and badgers. Notable locations for autumn colour include Stourhead in Wiltshire, the oak arboretum at Shugborough in Staffordshire, and Mount Stewart in County Down.
