After the fine summer that we’ve had the season has been
slowly slipping away over the past weeks. This morning I was awakened by a
distinctive cool breeze blowing in through my open window. The cold breath of early
dawn caressing my face as my head lay exposed outside the warm covers.
When I left the house I became instantly aware that the
trees were a blaze of Autumnal glory. It was as if the leaves had changed from
their varying shades of green to the rich golden colours of autumn overnight. A
strong wind was blowing and the trees swayed back and forth in time with the
rise and fall of each gust. With each surge of invisible atmospheric energy these
swaying giants lost their seasonal grip on their dead and dying leaves and the
cycle of life moves into another stage.
Carried through the air like confetti, thousands of leaves drifted
on the wind before gently coming to rest on the ground. Walking to school in
warm coats, children dragged their feet through the deep beds of crisp dry
leaves, kicking and throwing them into the air, where they were carried on
currents of air as the wind once again whipped up and lifted them high above
the their heads in ever increasing spirals.
As a noisy flock of Canada Geese flew overhead in tight
formation, heading in search of winter pastures, I sat for a while and watched
a squirrel collecting its harvest high in a tree. At regular intervals it would
dash down to ground level and scurry into the undergrowth out of sight.
Returning empty handed, it was clear that it was busy stocking its winter
larder.
Autumn is a magical time of year, when I most enjoy walking
in the woods. I love the rich vibrant colours and the sounds of crisp golden
leaves crunching underfoot. The freshness of the cooler mornings is a reminder
that the chill of winter is on the horizon.
Follow the link below for the Forestry Commissions top 10
list of forests to visit in autumn.
The Autumn Gallery has a selection of beautiful photographs
that you can download for free and use as screensavers or simply printout to
keep.
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