Why you should escape to the woods this autumn

Native trees

Did you know there are 60 different native species of tree in the UK? Some of the most common woodland species include English oak, beech, silver birch, hawthorn, hazel and white willow.

When you become a member of the Woodland Trust, you’ll receive a native tree ID guide, so take it with you on your next woodland adventure and see how many you can spot. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Wildlife

Woodlands are home to thousands of species, providing food, shelter and safe places for mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates to thrive. This includes some of the UK’s rarest and most endangered creatures, such as red squirrels, pine martens, Bechstein’s bats, Scottish wildcats and hazel dormice.

In autumn, you may see red squirrels gathering nuts to store for winter, but keep your eyes on the trees, as they spend most of their time up above. If you’re lucky, you may spot evidence of dormice, too – simply look out for hazelnuts with smooth, circular holes where they’ve nibbled the shell.

Fungi

Autumn is the prime time for finding weird and wonderful fungi, with many eye-catching varieties cropping up in woodland grass or leaf litter and some growing on tree trunks.

Known for their remarkably strange shapes and colours, fungi often have unusual names to match, such as ghost bolete, dead man’s fingers and witches’ butter, which is also known as yellow brain!

If you do decide to go on a fungus hunt, admire them with your eyes only, as some are toxic when eaten.

Nuts and berries

As the leaves turn, hedgerows and woods start to fill with nuts and berries that are ripe for foraging. If doing so, just remember to forage responsibly; only pick something when you’re sure of its identity – if in any doubt, leave it be – and only take as much as you need, ensuring to leave enough for wildlife and others to enjoy.

You could find ripe hazelnuts in October, depending on the weather, while bullace (a wild variety of plum) can be found on hedgerows. They’re typically used to make crumbles, jams and preserves, as well as fruit wine and liqueurs, such as sloe gin.

And don’t forget chestnuts. Ideal for baking and roasting during the festive season, you’ll find the best crop at the foot of large, established trees from October into early winter.

Craft items

Woodland walks are an awesome way to spark creativity and inspiration, especially for children. On your next outing, you could search for items to get crafty with for the spooky season.

For example, you could collect fallen leaves and paint them white to make ghost decorations, arrange orange leaves from deciduous trees into a pumpkin shape, or transform conkers into mini pumpkins with some orange paint.

Alternatively, if you’re after a handy Halloween prop, you could turn a good twig into a magic wand by decorating it with ribbons or wool.