Great Gardens and parks to visit this Autumn

My two favourite seasons are spring and autumn. I love autumn! Not only do I like wandering through woods, with the sunlight twinkling on the dew of freshly fallen leaves, but I also love the feeling of rejoicing in another season that has so much to offer.

Here is a list of my top  places to visit for autumn colour, the UK’s version of leaf peeping

• Visit your local wood, you won’t be disappointed.

The New Forest in Hampshire is a favourite place of mine to admire gorgeous trees such as oak and beech, this lovely forest looks spectacular in autumn and a great place to see wild deer during the rut.

• Westonbirt Arboretum in Wiltshire is lovely, it is very well set up with a café to enjoy a yummy hot chocolate after your walk.  We are hoping to make a return visit this autumn.

• Exbury in Hampshire. Don’t miss their wonderful exhibition of nerines, running through October.

• RHS Gardens – particularly Rosemoor in North Devon.

• Epping Forest in Essex – if you like fungi, this forest has a large collection to explore.

• Hiller Gardens (Sir Harold Hillier Gardens) in Hampshire, they have a restaurant to enjoy a nice Sunday roast after or before a walk, and they have regular exhibitions and activities.

• Sheffield Park Garden in East Sussex, owned by the National Trust originally created by Capability Brown and Humphrey Repton.

• Stourhead in Wiltshire, if you visit this lovely garden, don’t miss the beautiful garden next door – Stourton gardens

• Batsford Arboretum in the Cotswolds. They have a beautiful selection of trees.

• Trevarno Estate and Gardens in Cornwall. Their woodland is beautiful! I saw this garden covered in bluebells and know that it will be stunning throughout autumn.

• Bicton Park Botanical Gardens in Devon. We visited last week and they have a wonderful collection of trees, which are just beginning to show their Autumn colours. Keep an eye out for their maple collection.

Many of the National Trust Gardens are charming to visit! So check their website to see if there is a garden near you.

Don’t forget to look in magazines for ideas, for example Countryfile mentions Grizedale in Cumbria, Elan valley in Powys Wales and in the north of Scotland Carbisdale Castle.

October’s Country Living has a run down of their 25 favourite woods to visit in autumn.

Where do you like to visit for autumn colour?

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