A burst of colour across the National Forest

The National Forest is exploding into colour with a final dazzling display of vivid reds and golds with nature’s autumn finale before the bleak winter months. And the National Forest Company is urging people to get out into the woodlands and enjoy this Forest in the making.

Sophie Churchill, Chief Executive of the National Forest Company said: “With a wonderful display, autumn is the best time to enjoy the many walks in The National Forest.”

The rolling parkland landscape of Calke Abbey provides a perfect setting for an autumn walk, which could be combined with a visit into the fascinating historic house (open until 28 October) or with a short stroll to Staunton Harold Church and the Ferrers Centre for Arts and Crafts.

The Outwoods and Beacon Hill within the ancient Forest of Charnwood provide some of the best displays of Autumn colours and are criss-crossed with footpaths and cycleways to explore.

Willesley Wood, near Ashby de la Zouch, is always rich in vibrantly coloured Field Maple and Rowan during Autumn. Willesley was the first woodland planted as part of The National Forest and is maturing to become a well-established haven for wildlife.

The seasonal colours are twice as splendid when reflected in the water at either Thornton Reservoir or Foremark Reservoir. And, as we all know, all good walks end in a tea shop, public house or restaurant, which are sprinkled liberally throughout The National Forest.

Autumn is also a great time for foraging Forest fruits and is the ‘Seed Gathering Season’. The National Forest runs a ‘Seed to Tree’ scheme that encourages local residents and visitors to collect acorns and other native tree seeds and grow them on as small seedlings to be eventually planted in the growing National Forest. For a Seed Gathering Pack contact The National Forest Company on (01283) 551 211. After two years the seed-gatherers are invited to a community tree planting event to plant their little trees in a young woodland.

For more information on places to visit and where to eat in The National Forest, visit the website – Nationalforest.org.