Breathe

10 ways to make the best of autumn

Spirits can dip a little when summer’s on its way out. But there’s so much to enjoy about autumn – here are some top tips for enjoying the season of the turning leaves

1 – Woodland walks

Get out and about and watch the leaves turn all the colours of the rainbow by walking in nearby woodland. Not sure where to start? The National Trust (nationaltrust.org.uk) has some great suggestions to start you off.

2 –  Making music

Put together a playlist of autumn-themed songs – you may be surprised how many you find. Here’s a few to get you started: Autumn Almanac by The Kinks, Autumn Leaves by Ella Fitzgerald, November Rain by Guns N’ Roses and Wake Up Boo by the Boo Radleys. Now it’s your turn…

3 –  Poetry corner

The first lines of Keats’ Ode to Autumn have become a bit of a seasonal cliché, but the rest of the poem may not be nearly as familiar as the mists and mellow fruitfulness. Take the time to read it and think about which bits of autumn have remained unchanged since the poet’s time. You may even be inspired to write an autumnal ode of your own.

4 –  Painting from memory

Watercolours are the perfect way to capture the beautiful shades of autumn leaves. Take your paintbox to the woods, find a quiet spot and create your own work of art.

5 –  Love leaves

Fallen leaves in shades of gold, rust, bright red, purple, brown and green look like jewels when they first fall, but soon are ground into mud. On your woodland walk, rescue the most beautiful leaves you can find, press them in a heavy book and use them as the base for a collage.

6 –  Wildlife watch

Foxes, deer, rabbits and migrating birds may be more visible this season: grab your binoculars and keep your eyes peeled.

7 –  Nesting time

When the weather starts to turn, the days get cooler and the nights draw in, we start thinking more about spending time indoors. Pick one thing you can do to make your favourite living space even cosier this season – it could
be painting a wall, putting up a shelf, crafting a new quilt or blanket or buying an extra cushion – and make yourself the perfect hideaway for the colder weather.

8 –  Garden ready

But don’t forget the garden: make sure your beloved plants will be happy for the winter season, whether that be by pruning, removing saucers so they don’t get waterlogged or protecting them from frost.

9 –  Write it down

Many creative people are inspired by the changing seasons – so much so that November has been picked as the key month to write a novel. If you’ve been waiting for a good moment to start yours, this could be it. Find out more at nanowrimo.org.

10 – We’re jamming

Autumn fruit are perfect for preserves. Gather blackberries and other hedgerow fruit and make a big batch of jam for the winter – you could even give some as gifts.