FOOD FOR THOUGHT
From woodland walks to nourishing casseroles, hot toddies and bonfire bakes – it’s time to say hello to autumn
OUT AND ABOUT
TAKE A LEAFY WALK
NATIONAL TRUST GARDENS FOR AUTUMN COLOURS
1STOURHEAD, WILTSHIRE
This world-famous landscape garden has a magnificent lake as its centrepiece, and beyond the glorious oaks and fiery beech trees, you’ll find a real sense of wildness.
2 BODNANT GARDEN, NORTH WALES
One of Britain’s great horticultural havens, Bodnant has 80 acres of formal gardens, woodland and mountain views to stir your senses. During autumn, the gardens and arboretum explode into a firework display of amber, crimson and golden colours, overlooking the vast Conwy Valley.
3 HARDWICK HALL, DERBYSHIRE
With extensive orchards, Hardwick sees crab apples on show in autumn and hedgerows groaning with sloes. There are gorgeous walks around the grounds, twisting through nearby villages, mixing woodland paths with open countryside.
4 ICKWORTH, WEST SUFFOLK
To see the best of the autumn colour at Ickworth, head for the Albana walk, where leaves of the maple, chestnut, beech and oak trees range from bright yellow to deep crimson; and look out for deer in the ancient woodland. (nationaltrust.org.uk)
NATURE-WATCHING
THE AUTUMN MONTHS OFFER SOME OF NATURE’S MOST IMPOSING SIGHTS
● STAG-RUTTING
In deer parks across the country, stags do battle by clashing their extraordinary antlers; rewilding mecca Knepp in Sussex offers deer safaris with a trip to a hide, accompanied by an expert (knepp.co.uk).
● MIGRATIONS
Visit an RSPB reserve for the autumn bird migrations – Norfolk’s Snettisham and Titchwell Marsh offer the spectacular sight of migrating flocks of waders and geese (rspb.org.uk).
● LEAF CANOPIES
Picnic under a canopy of autumn leaves in woodland, or head to an arboretum like Westonbirt in Gloucestershire for the October colourfest (forestryengland.uk).
● DARK SKIES
As the nights draw in, the stars come out. The Dark Skies Festival in Exmoor holds stargazing talks and night-time adventures and runs all month (exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk). Or pack camping chairs, grab a blanket and a hot toddy and head to your nearest dark sky; find it at nationalparks.uk/dark-skies.
COSY UP
SERVES 8 V
HANDS-ON TIME 25 mins
TOTAL TIME 1 hr 55 mins, plus chilling
