The amazing pictures that show autumn has come early

 

By DUNCAN ROBERTSON - More by this author » Last updated at 08:52am on 7th September 2007 Comments

After a dreary summer of endless showers and muddy fields, autumn has arrived early with a welcome flourish of red and yellow.

 

Although the season does not traditionally start until the equinox in another fortnight, some trees have already taken on a warm, coppery hue.

And with experts forecasting a relatively dry autumn with below average wind, the leaves are likely stay on long enough for people to enjoy them.

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Four-year-old Ameilia Mykinley kicks her way through the leaves on her way to school with mum Louise

 

The mild and wet weather over the last few months has also produced a bumper crop of fruit, meaning a glut of juicy cider apples in southern England two weeks ahead of schedule.

People foraging in the hedgerows for wild berries will also be delighted. Despite the lack of sunshine, fruit such as blackberries, elderberries and sloeberries are thriving.

More than 14ins (362mm) of rainfall fell over the summer, from June to August, making it the wettest in the UK since records began in 1914.

The damp conditions are perfect for several varieties of mushroom and fungi, which have been spotted a month earlier than usual.

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The trees are already shedding their leaves in St Leonards park in Exeter

 

Although many trees across the country are just beginning to tint, in parks such as St Leonards in Exeter, children are already stomping through a thick carpet of fallen leaves.

The Woodland Trust, which monitors seasonal changes in the environment, says trees rooted in the shallow soil of urban parks and tree-lined avenues are often the first to shed their leaves.

This has been aided by temperature highs of 25C(77F) over the last few days, five degrees higher than the time of year.

A combination of cold nights and warm, sunny days are needed for broad-leafed trees to produce their full range of red and yellow colours.

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Two-year-old Howie plays in the fallen leaves in the park

 

Chestnuts are traditionally the first to change, followed by hawthorns and maple a few weeks later, while ash leaves is the last to change colour. Oak leaves change colour early in the season, but take several weeks for their coppery colours to deepen.

A spokesman for the Woodland Trust said: "It is very difficult to predict when trees will change colour and depends on a combination of three factors. Temperature during the night, temperature during the day and amount of rainfall."

In some orchards in Kent, apple boughs have split under the weight of their fruit. Growers there hope to press at least 20 gallons of juice from each tree, compared to five gallons in more barren years.

David Squirrel, an apple expert from the Symondsbury Apple Project, said the apples had benefited from a warm blossom season when pollinating activity was at its height.

He said: "It is right across the country and in Kent they were worried that the apples were swelling too much.

"They wondered if they would be too big and have no taste, but the weather seems to have sorted itself out."

Forecasters are predicting this season, which lasts until the end of November, will be several degrees warmer than the UK average of 11.4C (53F).

Autumn (Or Fall) 'officially' starts on the 21st September, so it ain't early.

Autumn (Or Fall) 'officially' starts on the 21st September, so it ain't early.

the 21? i always though it was the 23, my bday :nice: ... :thinking: well i think it changes a bit each year....

the 21? i always though it was the 23, my bday :nice: ... :thinking: well i think it changes a bit each year....

 

Your right, it's the only season to start on the 23rd, the other 3 start on the 21st. On the September equinox.

Autumn (Or Fall) 'officially' starts on the 21st September, so it ain't early.

 

This has nothing to do with dates, just the "look" and "feel".;)

Makes sense, Spring has come early this year, Summer came early this year and now Autumn has come early.

 

*Inserts some crap about global warming*

Makes sense, Spring has come early this year, Summer came early this year and now Autumn has come early.

 

*Inserts some crap about global warming*

 

What summer?:confused:

That period of hot weather way back in May/June.

mmm like 500 years ago, the calendar must be changed... (there were 2 weeks that never exist), may be we need to do it again.. remember that each year has 365 and 6 hours... may be that's why we have the feeling that seasons are coming earlier... :thinking:

 

then if that's the thing, the rest is a fake.

The year has 365 and a quarter days, every 4 years there is a leap year with the 29th February used to use up that extra day :)

The year has 365 and a quarter days, every 4 years there is a leap year with the 29th February used to use up that extra day :)

yes it can solve it matematically each 4 years... but see in 500 years may be it needs that we "erase" some days again... :thinking:

May do

May do

 

Is that anything like a May fair??:rolleyes:

does that mean we might have proper winter snow this year then? if everything else has been early?

there's still gladioli ready to flower in our garden!

proper winter snow

What other type of snow is there? :confused:

What other type of snow is there? :confused:

 

Artificial, like they make in ski resorts??:rolleyes:

What other type of snow is there? :confused:

 

proper winter snow is at least a couple of inches that covers the area for a few days without turning to slush. not this light sprinkling which turns to slush in half a day and makes everywehere ick.

proper snow is the sort whereby you can make a snowman, and go walking and have that lovely compacting crunch sound.

 

the sort of winters where you have to stock your cupboards up just in case you get snowed in

that would be all about the temperature and sun cover, not the snow itself ;)

proper winter snow is at least a couple of inches that covers the area for a few days without turning to slush. not this light sprinkling which turns to slush in half a day and makes everywehere ick.

proper snow is the sort whereby you can make a snowman, and go walking and have that lovely compacting crunch sound.

 

the sort of winters where you have to stock your cupboards up just in case you get snowed in

 

I think you've been watching too many movies!!:P

I think you've been watching too many movies!!:P

 

noooooo! reminds me of being in primary school when we used to get proper snow