A woodland walk this autumn: What could you see?

Autumn will soon be upon us, with its dazzling rich shades of golds and reds. But beyond the changing colours of the leaves, there is so much more to see.

As the days draw in

Autumn. It’s just almost in the air now. Nights will soon become that little bit colder, the breeze that little bit sharper and, perhaps most noticeably, the trees will start to shed their leaves. From a young age, we all associate autumn with the changing colours of the trees and I guarantee that, if asked to draw an autumn scene, all of us would immediately draw the familiar swathes of yellows, oranges and reds.

As habitats go, deciduous woodland probably shows the most obvious physical changes as summer transitions into autumn. But there is so much more going on than the changing colours of the leaves and their falling to the forest floor.

Though at first glance so peaceful, autumn is a time when woodlands buzz and thrive with activity. Wildlife of all shapes and sizes prepares for the long days of winter. Species specific to this season, such as the beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica), start to emerge and, slowly but surely, woodlands take on a new look, sound and smell.

Autumn is a fantastic time of year to brush up on your fungi ID skills. You may find something delicious too!

Enigmatic fungi you should not miss

Beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica) grows exclusively in broadleaved woodland and has the somewhat disconcerting appearance of a bloody steak or liver. It starts to emerge in August and sticks around until late autumn/ early winter, growing low down on the trunks of oaks and rotting sweet chestnut trees. Despite the acidic taste and rubbery texture, this fungus is actually edible and can be a colourful addition to some of your favourite autumn dishes.

Another fungus that is a personal favourite of mine is the enigmatic King Alfred’s Cake (Daldinia concentrica). Named after King Alfred who once, whilst making sure some baking cakes didn’t burn, failed miserably, these little fungi resemble lumps of coal or indeed, small burnt baked goods.  They grow exclusively on dying and decaying wood, especially ash and beech. Although especially abundant in autumn, they grow all year round and once you’ve got your eye in, you’ll soon be seeing everywhere. In addition to being useful for humans as a fire-starter, they are home to many insects, and food for caterpillars of the concealer moth.

More than just quiet decomposers

Beyond their peculiar looks and names, fungi are vitally important to woodlands, acting as recycling systems that process dead animal and plant matter, thus returning nutrients to the soil. And of course, many fungi species grow around tree roots. These fungi capture critical nutrients and water using their mycelium, a vast and dense network of filaments, and then trade these with the nearby trees. This partnership holds benefit to both the fungi and the trees, and thus connects both together. Quite simply, without the 15,000 or so species of fungi we have here in the UK, our woodlands and forests and the systems that exist within them, would soon unravel.

Although deciduous trees enter a period of ‘hibernation’ as they lose their leaves, their seeds - created through harvesting energy through summer- bring abundant life and sound to the autumn forest.

Far away from the fungi and the forest floor and up into the canopy above, our trees are using up the last of those summer sun rays to produce nuts of all shapes and sizes and literally “spread their seed”  to make sure their genes are passed onto the next generation. 

Come autumn, beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) litter the woodland floor with their nuts. These are produced once the female flowers are pollinated and the cup they surround turns woody. This, in turn, encloses one or two beech nuts which fall to the floor when heavy and ripe. The nuts are harvested and eaten by mice, voles, squirrels and birds, although some are inevitably buried and forgotten about, able to mature and grow and become the next generation of beech saplings.

In the late summer, hazel trees (Corylus avellana) produce small, tasty nuts that we are all familiar with. Once wind-pollinated, the female flowers mature into oval fruits which later develop into the small woody nuts surrounded by a leafy cup. As well as being used for a plethora of recipes and dishes by humans, hazel nuts are consumed by woodpeckers, woodpigeons, jays, nuthatches, as well as the rare and elusive dormouse.

Where can I go to see ancient woodland in autumn?

Only 2.5% of the UK is covered in ancient woodland and, perhaps because of this, it is all the more worth visiting. Fortunately, there are sites across the country where you can do so. A few worth mentioning include Grizedale Forest in the Lake District which contains ten square miles of ancient woodland. This fascinating site is famed for its natural sculptures which have been hand-crafted by multiple internationally renowned artists. In addition, there is a large network of walking and cycling trails, making it easy to explore, slow down, and absorb the spectacular autumn colours.

If you live in the East of England, then Ashridge in Hertfordshire is well worth a visit. The whole of the Chilterns is known for its glorious beech woods and Ashridge is no exception with its trees in autumn turning from green to a dazzling gold.

An urban but no less beautiful option is the magnificent Hampstead Heath of North London. Whisking you away to a fairy tale forest, it is easy to forget that you are in the capital, and only a stone’s throw-away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Are you a London dweller? If so, don’t fear! Ancient woodland is still near, in the form of the charming Hampstead Heath.

Our hope for this autumn

When walking through a woodland, be it ancient or young, it is hard to not be brought down to earth by all the life that surrounds you. There is something perhaps intrinsically calming about them, something grounding, something inspiring, and something uplifting. To help more people enjoy such woodlands across the UK, 9Trees hopes to plant 10,000 native broadleaf trees this autumn, as well as many many more in future years. Learn more, and how you could help, here.

By Millie Williams- Blog writer and conservation storyteller