Noticing the elements of the seasonal shift into autumn helps me adjust to the incoming winter months.  Nature journaling is a great way to process these seasonal changes. Read more of my nature journaling tips and learn about my creative inspired nature workshops, which you can join.

Whatever the weather, there's still joy to be found in November.  It’s a month for taking our lead from nature and turning more inwards. For still getting outdoors when the hours are light and the weather allows; then retreating indoors, to embrace the concept of hygge. In fact, November offers the perfect excuse for lashings of hot tea, cake and buttery crumpets in front of the fire and TV!

Since passing the Equinox at the end of last month, there can be no denying that we’re firmly in Autumn.  It’s evident in the landscape, the trees and the plants, the changing colours and weather. Outdoors it’s slowly starting to turn amber, auburn, scarlet and sepia

There’s a blending of the seasons in September. If we’re lucky, we head into this lovely month still basking in the warmth and glory of Late Summer then by the last week or so of September our thoughts turn to Autumn.

October is certainly a month for noticing the colours as well as observing the abundance. As I write the leaves are beginning to change colour and some are starting to leave the trees on gusts of wind.

Does October conjure up visions of traditional orchards for you? Tree branches laden with ripe fruit, dappled sunlight, the sweet smell of windfalls, scrumping and flagons of homemade cider and apple juice? If so then seize your opportunity to visit an orchard as part of Apple Day celebrations on 21 October.

Soft mornings are returning. The hedgerows are laden with berries and fruit and it’s time to go out walking with a small container to collect bounty. I think of this as gathering on a nature walk and always take just a little from each plant, leave plenty for animals

The second ancient harvest festival of the year falls on 22 September and marks the astronomical start of Autumn. The festival is named Mabon after a god from Welsh mythology, whose name means ‘child of light’.

There’s something very satisfying about collecting and cooking with the fruits of the season. Right now for me that means foraging in the local hedgerows for elderberries to make spiced elderberry syrups. Rich in vitamin A & C, flavonoids and antioxidants, elderberries make a great cold and flu remedy and the syrup tastes delicious too!