Leaf grey skies behind – get set for spectacular autumn hues
Forget the deluge of the past few days – because the colours of autumn that lie ahead are expected to be even more glorious than usual this year.
the high levels of sunshine through the summer and into September are likely to create an intense and vibrant range of hues, say experts at the National trust.
Maple trees are already turning red and orange, with ash, cherry and oak trees increasingly going amber and russet.
the sun’s rays raise the sugar content in leaves, boosting production of pigments called anthocyanins which turn plants a vivid red and pink. So thanks to high levels of sunshine over six months, followed by a bright spell at the end of September, the chances of a ‘spectacular and prolonged’ autumn display have been raised.
However the next two weeks must remain settled to encourage this to happen. It comes after large parts of the country sustained heavy rainfall over recent days, bringing flooding and travel chaos.
Simon toomer, a plant specialist at the National trust, said: ‘Autumn in the northern hemisphere is one of the natural world’s great spectacles.
‘It starts in the far northern deciduous forests and progresses southwards to the warm temperate regions over about a ten-week period. our northern gardens and woodlands are therefore a week or two ahead of the most southerly.’
He added: ‘North America and Japan are the best-known global hotspots for autumn colour and we are lucky that many of our gardens and parks have many trees from these areas. this variety of species ensures a long and very colourful display and this year, with favourable weather conditions, the show should be spectacular.’
Among the best sights in autumn are larch trees, which turn yellow, dawn redwoods, which become a brownish red, and the transformation of the Japanese red maple to become purple. grand oaks and sweet chestnuts drop carpets of leaves, perfect for children to kick through on a country walk.
Cold nights are vital to enhancing autumn colour, as low temperatures destroy the chlorophyll which give leaves their green colour, so that they fade to yellow. experts are hoping for an october without heavy winds and storms, which knock leaves off branches before they have the chance to change colour.