What To Look For On An Autumn Nature Walk

what to look for on an autumn nature walk

What to look for on an autumn nature walk

Hello! In this tutorial, we are going to look at how to do an autumn nature walk and what to look for on an autumn nature walk. Are you ready? Lets get started!

Doing an autumn nature walk

When doing any nature walk, not just an autumn nature walk, it is worth taking a moment before you start, to think about what you might expect to smell, hear and see. Then, think about where you might find those things.

In most of our habitats, the main groups you will expect to find, are trees, plants, birds, bugs and animals.

And to find them, we need to pay attention to our six nature walk directions.

  • Up in the sky
  • In the canopy
  • Above head level
  • Within the shrub layer
  • Among the plant layer
  • On or below the ground

Lets see what we might find in each category.

Identifying Autumn Trees

In all seasons, there are clues and signs to look for when identifying trees and fortunately, autumn is no exception. In fact, it can be easier to identify any trees you find in the autumn, than in any other season.  Why? Because there are so many clues around to help you.

Tree signs to look out for in the autumn, include, leaves, nuts and seeds, berries and fruit, buds, cones, bark. 

You can find trees in many places - woodlands, hedgerows, parks and even along city streets. Remember to look in all directions for your clues - you may well see seeds flying like helicopters through the sky or nuts being buried (often by birds or animals) under the surface of the earth!

Plants to spot in the autumn

While we may associate plants with the spring and summer, there are still a variety of plants (and non-plants) to spot in the autumn. Again, look in all the directions. You may find plants way up in the tree canopy as well as in the ground.

Some plants (and not-quite-plants) to look for, are, ivy, mistletoe, 'weeds', flowering plants such as Michaelmas daisy and cyclamen, ferns, moss and lichens.

Remember, you can find plants in the most unlikely places, including between concrete slabs and walls, in meadows, fields, forests, hedgerows, riversides, seasides... the list goes on!

What birds can I spot in the autumn?

The fact that trees and shrubs at this time of the year are bursting with seeds, fruits and berries, makes it an excellent time to spot autumn birds. Not just that, but there is also a cross-over between our usual birds, and seasonal visitors. You may see flocks flying overhead, or gathering and swirling over the fields; visiting our garden bird feeders, or hiding in the shrubs and hedgerows.

Some of the birds to look for, are:

  • Geese, swans and ducks
  • Fieldfares, redwings and waxwings
  • Starings, blackbirds, robins
  • Bluetits, great tits, long-tailed tits
  • Woodpeckers, goldcrests and nuthatches
  • Owls and other birds of prey

Remember - you may not always see them - sometimes you can hear them. So, always keep your ears open - even in the city. We once visited a busy Christmas market. It was so noisy, that we barely heard the little twitter, twitter, twitter going on in the background. But, after tuning into the sound and finally looking up, we were greeted with the sight of hundreds of beautiful, pink, long-tailed tits all gathered in the trees around the market. There were so many, just above head level, and yet nobody had noticed. It was an experience I have never forgotten.

What Insects can I spot in the autumn?

Even though many insects disappear in the winter, there are still plenty of bugs to go around. Again, keep you eyes and ears open in all directions in order to find them. Here are a few examples:

  • Spiders
  • Craneflies
  • Moths
  • Beetles
  • Worms
  • Slugs and snails

Which animals can I find in the autumn?

As in all seasons, much of our wildlife is timid and shy. But, if you stay really calm and quite and keep your eyes wide open, you may begin to notice them - or signs of them. The animals themselves, their homes, their left-over meals, scat, tracks and footprints... they are all there if you pay attention.

Some of the animals you are most likely to see, are foxes, hedgehogs, badgers, mice, bats, squirrels and deer.

Foxes can be spotted... anywhere, hedgehogs might be night-time visitors in your own back garden. Mice can be found in thickets or tall grass; badgers are very shy, but you might stumble across their sets in the forest. Deer can be spotted in fields, parks and forest clearings; bats can be spied at dusk near canals, and rivers. And, of course, squirrels can also be spotted almost anywhere!

Which can you spot on your nature walks?

Ideas for your autumn nature journal

Some great ideas for your autumn nature journal, are:

  • Watch, sketch and write about migrating geese flocks
  • Gather, sketch, press and describe autumn leaves
  • Sketch and describe nuts and seeds
  • Find and sketch animal or bird tracks

Make sure to note down the colours and textures of the things you see; the way they move, the sounds they make; the impressions they give you when you see or handle them.

Ideas for an autumn nature table

One way to encourage thoughtful and spontaneous nature study, is to keep a nature table. These can be a mixture of sketches, photographs, notes or finds. A few ideas, are:

  • Nuts and seeds
  • Fruits and berries
  • Pine cones
  • Autumn leaves
  • Bird feathers

Look at them, handle them and generally think about them. Why do sycamore seeds have membranous wings? Why are conkers round? Is there  reason this feather is short and fluffy, but that feather sleek and long? Why are some autumn leaves orange, others yellow and some red? What are pine cones?

Summary

Well... there we go! A run through of what to look for on your autumn nature walk. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial? Let me know in the comments. Happy nature walking and see you soon!

P.S. If you enjoyed this tutorial, don't forget to subscribe by clicking the button below x

What next?

Check out these related links and resources:

Why Do Trees Lose Their Leaves In The Autumn?

why do trees lose their leaves in the autumn?

Why do trees lose their leaves in the autumn?

Hello! In this tutorial, we are going to look at how and why trees shed their leaves once the autumn arrives. Are you ready? Lets get started! Here are your quick links:

 

Overview

Here is a quick overview about why trees need to shed their leaves in the autumn.
 
  • Trees shed their leaves in response to the lengthening nights and cooler days of autumn.
  • Leaf drop is triggered by chlorophyll, auxin and ethylene.
  • It starts by the growth of an abscission layer between the leaf stalk and its twig. 
  • This layer cuts the leaf off from the rest of the tree, so it no longer has food or water. It also weakens the cells in that area.
  • Eventually, the leaf attachment weakens so much, it detaches and falls from the tree.

Are you ready to learn more? Let's go!

Why do trees have leaves?

To understand why trees drop their leaves, we must first understand why trees have leaves. As we discussed in our tutorial, why leaves change colour, leaves are effectively the kitchen stoves of the tree. They capture and use solar energy to make up food for the tree. This process is called photosynthesis and happens because of  a pigment called chlorophyll in the leaves.

Chlorophyll is only found in the trees' leaves. So, the leaves have evolved to help the chlorophyll capture as much sunlight as possible, by being thin and flat. This helps provide lots of energy for the tree.

What triggers autumn leaf loss?

In the autumn, the lengthening nights mean less sunlight exposure, and less work for the chlorophyll. Producing chlorophyll takes up a lot of the tree's energy, so, it stops producing it.

The absence of chlorophyll, stimulates a hormone in the leaf, called auxin. Normally, auxin flows from the tree branches, through the twigs and out into the leaf. But, the loss of chlorophyll causes it to change direction. Now, it flows back from the leaf into the tree.

Auxin has protective properties - especially on a special layer of cells, called the abscission layer, between the leaf stem and its twig. Its absence causes this abscission layer to become sensitive to an enzyme called ethylene.

Ethylene breaks things down. It weakens the cells in the abscission layer, causing them to break and fracture. This makes the leaf weak to the point where wind, or the leaf's weight by itself, causes the leaf to detach and fall. This is called abscission. 

What is auxin?

Like insulin or adrenaline in humans, auxin is a hormone that can be found inside plants. In fact, it is a very important hormone, and is the reason why roots grow downwards and stems grow up. It also makes twigs and branches lengthen, and leaf buds expand into leaves. 

In order to nourish the growing leaves, the tree needs to get food and water to them - which it does through little vessels - just like our own arteries and veins. Auxin is responsible for growing these, too.

But, once the leaf becomes old or damaged, or when there is no more chlorophyll, the auxin stops going there. This causes the little vessels feeding the leaf to block off. It also makes the leaf stem become sensitive to another hormone - ethylene.

What is the abscission layer?

The abscission layer, or scissor layer, is the name given to a special layer of cells that grows underneath the leaf stem. The cells in this layer are tough and corky and work a bit like a scar over a wound. Protecting the tree once its leaf falls off. This tops fungi or bacteria from entering the tree.

Why do trees shed their leaves?

Okay, so now we know how leaves drop, but now we need to ask - why? Why should the tree lose its leaves? Well, if you look back at the section above, we can see that leaves have evolved to have a large surface area in order to absorb as much sunlight as possible. They are also very thin. During the spring and summer, this is great. But not in the autumn and winter.

Having a huge surface area of thin leaves, is like a ship in a storm with a huge, open sail. The leaves will catch the wind, potentially causing the branches to crack or break. They could also act like a huge umbrella, catching the weight of heavy rain or snow.

In addition, because the tree loses water through its leaves, if the ground is frozen and it cannot absorb enough water, this can cause the tree to dehydrate. So, the tree sheds its leaves through the cold, dark winter months to protect itself and stay alive. It enters a state of dormancy or hibernation and waits until spring to make new leaves.

 

Do all trees lose their leaves?

While it may look like most deciduous trees drop their leaves in the autumn, if we look closely, we will see this is not true. At least, not all trees shed their leaves at the same time.

Some trees, such as ash, do lose their leaves very quickly. But other trees, such as hornbeam and beech, hang onto them for a lot longer. These trees tend to have redder leaves in the autumn, indicating a higher sugar content. So, they may be more resilient to loss of sunlight and the cooler weather.

And while we may think that evergreen trees do not lose their leaves,  this is not quite true. They do shed their leaves too - but not always in the autumn. Coniferous leaves abscise little by little, throughout the year, instead of all in one go, like deciduous trees. So, they only appear to be green all year round.

 

Thoughts for your nature walk...

 

The next time you are out and about, pay attention to the trees. 

  • Which trees have already dropped all their leaves?
  • Which trees are still hanging on to theirs?
  • Have they dropped because of windy days?
  • Or, have they dropped by their own weight?
  • Can you see leaf scars on the ends of the twigs, where the leaves used to be?
  • Finally, did you enjoy this tutorial? If so, leave us a comment and a rating of 5 stars!

If you would like to learn more, there is a nice little video about leaf abscission here. And if you are curious about why leaves change colour, we have a little tutorial on that too.

 

Summary

Well... there we go! An easy overview about why trees shed their leaves in the autumn. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial? Let me know in the comments. Happy nature walking and see you soon!

P.S. If you enjoyed this tutorial and would like to see more, don't forget to subscribe by clicking the pink button below x

What next?

Check out these related links and resources:

What Makes Leaves Change Their Colour In Autumn?

why do leaves change colour

Why do leaves change colour in the autumn?

Hello! In this tutorial, we are going to look at how and why tree leaves change their colour in the autumn. We will also look at why some leaves turn yellow, while others turn orange or red. Are you ready? Lets get started!

Here are your quick links:

Why do leaves change colour?

Here is a quick over view of autumn leaves and their many colours.

  • Leaves contain several different coloured pigments - green chlorophyll, red anthocyanin, yellow xanthophyll and orange carotenoid 
  • There is so much more chlorophyll compared to the other pigments, that the leaves appear green.
  • Autumn's cold weather and reduced daylight hours prompt trees to enter a state of hibernation
  • Chlorophyll makes energy for the tree, but needs sunlight to function.
  • It also costs the tree a lot of energy to make its chlorophyll
  • So, they stop producing chlorophyll in order to save energy
  • Once the there is no more chlorophyll, we see the other pigments shine!

Are you ready to learn more? Let's go!

Why do trees have leaves?

To understand why leaves change colour, we must first understand why trees have leaves in the first place.

Leaves are basically the kitchens of plants and trees. They take the main ingredients a tree needs to live (sunlight and carbon dioxide), combines them with water and minerals (absorbed by the trees’ roots), and uses sunlight to cook them up into oxygen and sugars. These sugars can then be used as an energy source by the tree.

Why are leaves green?

In order to acquire the sunlight it needs to cook its food, trees have a special pigment (called chlorophyll) inside their leaves. Chlorophyll absorbs the sunlight and uses it as a catalyst (a helper) in this energy-making process. (This process is called photosynthesis.)

Chlorophyll is green - and there is LOTS of it in every leaf. So, most leaves look green. But, chlorophyll is not the only pigment present inside leaves.

There are actually several pigments, each with their own special function. The most important of these, are chlorophyll (green), carotenoids (orange), xanthophyll (yellow), tannins (brown) and anthocyanins (red).

But there is so much chlorophyll compared to the others, that it completely masks them to the point that we cannot see the other colours. That is, until the arrival of autumn.

What makes leaves change colour in the autumn?

As autumn sets in, the temperatures drop and the nights draw in, reducing daylight hours. This means less cooking or food-making time for the tree, which means less photosynthesis.

The amount of energy created by the chlorophyll drops significantly - even though the tree is still using up energy to make it. (This change in temperature and daylight, is called photoperiodism). It makes no sense for the tree to be wasting energy in making chlorophyll if it is not getting anything back. So, it stops making chlorophyll.

(Remember, there is more than one pigment present in tree leaves. It is just the vast quantity of chlorophyll that makes us see leaves as green. So, it makes sense that once the tree stops producing chlorophyll, we will start to see the other pigments present in the leaves.)

But even these pigments compete with each other. Remember, xanthophyll is yellow, carotenoids are orange and anthocyanins are red. So, if there are more carotenoids and xanthophyll than anthocyanins, we see the leaves as orange or yellow. But if there are more anthocyanins than carotenoids, then the leaves appear red.

How does weather affect leaf colour?

Like chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanin are also dependent on temperature and daylight hours - especially anthocyanin.

So, sometimes, if the season is cold and bright, red leaves become much more vibrant (because the tree is producing lots of anthocyanin).

Whereas, if the season is cloudy and overcast, the leaves look duller and not as bright (because it is not producing as much).

Do all trees lose their leaves in the autumn?

Although photoperiodism will affect almost all trees, not all trees lose their leaves in response to it.

Conifers are called evergreens because they do not shed their leaves in the autumn (although, larch does). Whereas deciduous trees almost always shed their leaves (although, holly and holly oak are exceptions).

Also, not all deciduous trees shed their leaves at the same time. Some trees, like ash, change colour and drop their leaves really early in the season. While others, such as oak, beech, sycamore and hornbeam take time to respond and hold on to their leaves for much, much longer.

Why are autumn trees different colours?

If you look around you in the autumn, you will notice a wide array of autumn shades. Some trees are red, some are yellow, some orange and others are brown.

While the colour of each tree is dependent on the ratio of its pigments, certain trees tend to turn certain colours.

For example, hornbeam and maple often turn red, while field maple and ash are usually yellow. Hawthorn often turns to orange and oak, with its tannins, turns a tan-brown colour.

Well, there we go!

So, what makes leaves change their colour in the autumn? It is all down to cooler weather, shorter daylight hours and pigments!

Once the autumn kicks in and the days get shorter, the trees cannot justify wasting energy to produce chlorophyll, because it cannot help the tree make energy in return. So, they stop making it, allowing all the other pigments present in the leaf to step into the dimming light and shine!

If you would love to learn more, you can have a look at this BBC documentary about why leaves change colour in the autumn. You can also learn how to preserve your leaves for autumn crafts in this nature craft tutorial.

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How to preserve autumn leaves in four easy ways.

how to preserve autumn leaves

Four Ways To Preserve Autumn Leaves

Hello! In this tutorial, we are going to learn about four easy ways to preserve autumn leaves ready for use in your nature crafts or nature journal. Are you ready? Lets get started! Here are your quick links:

Why preserve autumn leaves?

Who can resist swishing through a pile of autumn leaves? Scuffing and kicking them up with your feet? Stopping to pick up a beautiful leaf? There are so many things you can do with them ... press them in journals, weave them into wreathes; crown yourself queen of the forest ...
 

You can of course use them just as they are. But, it helps if they are supple - they are easier to work with or, if you have a bit more time to enjoy them before they disintegrate or break. One way of making them last longer and increasing their flexibility, is to preserve them. There are multiple ways to do this, some more complicated than others. In this tutorial, we will look at the four easiest ways to preserve autumn leaves:

How to press leaves

This method is the simplest and easiest way of preserving autumn (or any) leaves. You simply use a heavy weight and some kind of blotting paper to dry the leaves out.

Uses:

Leaves dried by pressing are useful for sticking into nature journals or creating pictures. They can also be arranged with pressed flowers to make a more interesting feature.

You will need:

  • Flat, thin leaves
  • Newspaper or other blotting paper
  • Heavy books or weights

Directions:

  1. Lay your leaves carefully on half a sheet of folded newspaper.
  2. Gently lay the other half of the newspaper on top of the leaves.
  3. Place the heavy books or other weights on top.
  4. Keep them somewhere cool and dry.
  5. Gently lift the top sheet and check up on your leaves once a week.
  6. If any are looking mouldy, make sure to remove them.
  7. Your leaves are ready when they are completely dry.

Tips:

  • To make the leaves softer, you can soak in them in a little diluted laundry conditioner first.
  • Alternatively, you can gently brush them with a thin layer of vaseline or oil.

How to preserve leaves with waxed paper

This method uses a blanket of waxed paper to enclose the leaves. Applying heat, then makes the wax melt and coat the leaves.

Uses:

Leaves dried by this method can be used for garlands, bunting and lanterns.

You will need:

  • Flat, thin leaves
  • Waxed paper
  • Hot iron
  • 2 cloth rags
  • Ironing board

Directions:

  1. Lay one of your rags on the ironing board.
  2. Lay a sheet of waxed paper, waxy side up, on top of the rag.
  3. Carefully places your leaves on top of the waxed paper.
  4. Gently place another waxed paper, waxy side down, on top of the leaves.
  5. Carefully place the second rag on top of this second sheet.
  6. Slowly and smoothly, run your hot iron over the cloth on top of the waxed paper/leaf sandwich.
  7. Next, gently press down and hold the iron over the cloth for a few seconds, before moving to the next area.
  8. Do this for the whole cloth/wax-leaf-sandwich area.
  9. Make sure the wax has al melted, then remove the iron and allow to cool.
  10. Once they are completely cool, you can carefully tease the paper off the waxed leaves, then cut the leaves out.

Tips:

  • Try and leave a margin around each leaf when cutting them out. This helps ensure they stay sealed.

How to preserve leaves in a microwave

This method uses a microwave oven to dry out and preserve your leaves. 

Uses:

Leaves dried in the microwave can be used in nature journals, book marks and for inserting in clay tiles.

You will need:

  • Fresh, pliable leaves. 
  • Paper towels
  • Paper
  • Ceramic coaster or flat, microwaveable plate
  • Microwave oven

Directions:

  1. Fold a piece of paper in half, then open it up
  2. Carefully lay your leaves in one half of the open paper
  3. Fold the paper in half, sandwiching the leaves inside it.
  4. Then sandwich the paper-leaf sandwich inside your paper towel.
  5. Place this bundle carefully in the microwave
  6. Gently place a ceramic toaster or flat plate on top of the bundle.
  7. Microwave on medium heat for 30 seconds, then check your leaves.
  8. Keep checking every 30 seconds.
  9. Your leaves are ready when they are nice and dry and no longer stick to the paper.

Tips:

  • Make sure you keep checking your leaves every 10-30 seconds - if they become too dry, they may scorch and burn.
  • Thinner leaves will dry much faster than thicker leaves. So, it may be useful to dry thick and thin leaves in separate batches.

How to preserve leaves in a glycerine bath

This method uses a mixture of water and glycerine to preserve your leaves.

Uses:

Leaves dried in a glycerine bath, maintain their soft, supple quality. They can be used in bunting, vase decorations, leaf crowns or other crafts.

You will need:

  • Fresh leaves or twiggy branches
  • Water
  • Glycerine
  • Container

Directions:

  1. Mix 1 part of glycerine to 2 parts of water
  2. Carefully submerge your leaves into this water-glycerine mix
  3. Place a heavy dish on top to help push the leaves under and keep them submerged
  4. Leave them in the solution and check on them every 2-3 days
  5. Your leaves are ready when they are soft, flexible and shiny.
  6. Take them out, and blot them dry on  some paper towels
  7. Voila! Your leaves are ready to use.

Tips:

  • You can also preserve whole branches with leaves attached too. Just crush the ends of the branches and place them in a vase containing the water-glycerine solution. Store it away from heat and sunlight. The branch is ready once little dew-like beads appear on the leaves. Take them out of the solution, blot them off and leave them to dry.

Other leaf preservation methods

Above, we have discussed four methods of preserving autumn leaves ready for use in your autumn leaf nature crafts. But, there are also several other methods you can use. Some of these include,

  • Dipping in melted wax
  • Coating in PVA glue
  • Laminating in plastic
  • Using nail varnish
  • Painting in glitter glue

Why not experiment and see which methods you prefer? If you want to identify the leaves you find, you can check out this post here.

Summary

Well... there we go! A quick introduction to four ways you can use to help you preserve autumn leaves ready for use in your nature crafts. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial? Let me know in the comments. Happy nature walking and see you soon!

P.S. If you enjoyed this tutorial, don't forget to subscribe by clicking the button below x

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