Forestry England launches public autumn

Forestry England is asking people to help track the changing colours of forests across the country. The government agency has launched a citizen science project called Autumn Leaf Watch to create a record of when and how autumn arrives.

People can become 'autumn spotters' using Forestry England's new autumn colour tracker. Participants are invited to record the most common leaf colour they see on forest visits. They can also search for colour changes on specific tree species.

Tracking seasonal change

By collecting observations over the coming weeks and in future years, Forestry England hopes to build a detailed picture. The data will show how the timing and development of autumn colour varies between regions, habitats, and tree species. The agency is in charge of the country's woodlands.

Early observations suggest autumn remains in its infancy. Forestry England said most reports still show green woodland canopies. However, yellow and orange leaves have already been recorded at several locations.

Species showing early change

Silver birch and beech are among the first species showing colour change. Oak has so far remained predominantly green across much of the country. The project focuses on several key species for observation.

The timing of autumn is influenced by multiple factors. These include daylight, temperature, rainfall, soil moisture, and the health of individual trees. Forestry England noted this year's extremely hot and dry summer caused some trees to shed leaves earlier than usual.

It is too early to say what effect climate crisis-driven conditions will have on this autumn as a whole. Weather over the coming weeks will help determine how the season develops.

A year of particular interest

Chris Sorenson, a forest management adviser at Forestry England, said the UK's summer of extreme heat made this year particularly interesting to observe. "Some trees have already shed leaves early, but there's still plenty of autumn to come," he said. The agency wants people to get outside, look closely at trees, and help track the changes.

The changing colours are part of the process by which deciduous trees prepare for winter. With days shortening and temperatures falling, trees stop producing chlorophyll. This green pigment's disappearance allows yellow and orange pigments already present in the leaves to become visible. Some species also produce red pigments.

The timing and intensity of the change can vary considerably between species and locations. Observations from across the country will be useful for understanding how autumn develops from year to year. Forestry England's project relies on these public contributions to build its national picture.