Autumn at Westonbirt Arboretum | A magical tree garden, where you can explore trees from all over the globe
As summer ends and we move into the beautiful autumn colours, we have. look at what walks there are in and around West Berkshire.
Fewer sunlight hours and cooler temperatures reduce the need for chlorophyll in leaves in autumn.
As the pigment breaks down, xanthophyll and carotene becomes more visible, producing a stunning array of yellow and red hues.
Enjoying Autumn Colour in and Around West Berkshire
- Basildon Park
- Englefield Estate
- Blenheim Palace
- Oxford Botanical Gardens
- Westonbirt
As autumn begins, the Parkland and gardens at Basildon Park transform into a riot of oranges, reds and hues of yellow as the leaves change.
With a wide variety of tree species at Basildon Park, there’s much to be seen, and enjoyed, during a walk this autumn.
As you wander through the parkland spot the Tulip trees changing to vibrant colours in September and October.
The yellowing leaves of the Field Maples make for a contrast to the surrounding reds and oranges that are appearing on the beech trees throughout the parkland as well.
There are four way-marked walks around the parkland at Basildon Park to explore autumn colour.
For some of the best views back to the house in autumn, take the green walk that takes you to the very outskirts of the Basildon estate
.Situated right in front of the house, the majestic copper beech at Basildon Park is a Victorian feature planted in 1850, and come autumn puts on a wonderful display of changing colour.
The best time to visit is from late September when the oaks, maples, Liquidambar and other deciduous trees provide a riot of autumn colour.
There are many walks to experience at Blenheim Palace, here are a few recommended ones.
Please view their map for further information.
The Formal Gardens: A 1.5-mile walk taking 1 hour suitable for wheelchair and buggy users.
The Lake: A 0.75-mile circular walk taking 35 minutes. Wheelchair and buggy users are recommended to return via the Rose Garden after reaching the Cascade.
The Queen Pool: A 1.5-mile circular walk around the lake taking 45 minutes. A dog-friendly route and suitable for wheelchair and buggy users.
The Park Perimeter: A 4.6-mile walk taking 2 hours with some steep slopes. A dog-friendly route and suitable for wheelchair and buggy users.
Formal Gardens Audio Tour: A 2.2-mile walk taking 1 hour. Follow the numbers and listen to the Audio Guide at app.blenheimpalace
The Arboretum glows with colour through autumn.
The Acer Glade is awash with vivid reds and rich golds, in Lime Wood the leaves create a rich yellow canopy and flutter gently to the ground, while in Bluebell Wood the bracken is a rich copper.
Along Holly Walk you’ll find bright berries amongst the greenery and don’t forget to pay a visit to our piglets (just ask at the Ticket Office).
The Arboretum is home to a number of dawn redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) which during the autumn months glow with a vivid brick-red colour, resembling a flaming torch.
Known only in fossil records until the 1940s, the dawn redwood is often described as a ‘living fossil’. It is the only living member of the genus Metasequoia, although the fossil record shows us that it was distributed through North America and Eurasia up to 100 million years ago.
Today, the dawn redwood is restricted to the border of two Chinese provinces and Chongqing in Central China, but it is a popular addition to many parks and gardens in Europe and America.
Despite this, it is still internationally recognised as endangered.
Keep an eye out for our stately oaks which turn a golden brown, and other eye-catching colour from trees such as Taxodium distichum (swamp cypress) and Larix x eurolepis (hybrid larch).
Palmer’s Leys is also worth visiting, the native planting shines a merry yellow on sunny days.
Home to 2,500 different species from the far corners of the globe and 5 national tree collections, Westonbirt is the perfect place for you to escape, relax or have an adventure! Take a journey up into the canopy on the STIHL Tree Top Walkway, stop by the café for a tasty treat or see if you can spot the Gruffalo!
A delight to visit at any time of the year, Westonbirt is perhaps best known for its spectacular display of autumn colour. The diversity and vibrancy of leaf colours to be found at Westonbirt are unsurpassed in Britain creating a botanical experience like no other
Autumn Gardens at The Vyne | Burning Liquidambar, auburn Swamp Cypress and sturdy American Red Oaks set ablaze an informal garden landscape
Autumn at Greys Court | When autumn arrives at Greys Court hues of reds, oranges and yellows can be seen throughout the gardens and the estate, creating a wonderful display of colour for your autumn walk.
Autumn Colours at Englefield Estate
Their gardens are open to visitors every Monday throughout the year, including Bank Holidays, from 10.00am – 6.00pm April to October and 10.00am – 4.00pm November to March. Visitors do not need to book in advance (except to arrange a group tour, see below).
Autumn at Harcourt Arboretum | Building a gateway to nature with local communities
Autumn at Basildon Park | As autumn begins, the Parkland and gardens at Basildon Park transform into a riot of oranges, reds and hues of yellow as the leaves change. With a wide variety of tree species at Basildon Park, there’s much to be seen, and enjoyed, during a walk this autumn.
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