Where to see Autumn colours in Sussex
As we write, the wind is making the first fallen leaves whirl. It has been a blustery day. The leaves are turning - some prematurely it seemed as, until just days ago, the sun was still really warm. But now there is a slight bite in the air as we wander around the garden at The Grain Store. The wind is playing with the steam from our tea mugs and we are noticing more leaves are turning red, yellow or orange with each passing day.
Sussex boasts some beautiful ancient woodlands. From the copses that stand against the horizon in The Ashdown Forest to the splendour of gardens that have been meticulously curated with trees from around the world, there is an array of places where you can embrace Autumn. Here are our three favourite best walks in Sussex; and some tips as to where you can stop for a rest after taking in nature’s painterly displays.
Image credit: ashdownforest.org
The Ashdown Forest
It is the heather on this open heathland that is often the first signaller of a change of season. It slowly turns from green to brown; and from lush to dry.
A former medieval hunting forest, the site is 2,472 hectares and dotted with clumps of trees including Scots Pine, Oak, Silver Birch, Hazel and Chestnut. Tributaries to the River Medway and River Ouse both flow through the forest and it is at their edges where the trees are often the densest. Watch out for kestrels circling the canopy. You could opt just to wander but the Ashdown Forest Centre has lots of walking route guides and the wardens also lead guided walks throughout the year.
Right on the edge of the forest, in a place aptly named Forest Row, is Tablehurst Farm. In its shop, you can buy award-winning pasties and sausage rolls; Jersey yoghurt (from the Jersey cows grazing in the fields nearby); biodynamic beef and lamb; organic pork and chicken; and a bounty of vegetables and fruit. There is also a café on site. And, in what seems fitting for the season, the team is running a series of fermenting workshops this Autumn.
Sheffield Park Gardens
There are five lakes at Sheffield Park Gardens and in Autumn, they reflect the golds, russet reds and burnt orange of the majestic trees that are the hallmarks of this place.
Owned by The National Trust since 1954, the gardens have been shaped by horticultural luminaries including Lancelot Capability Brown and Humphry Repton. Trees reside here that have been brought from all over the world, including Swamp Cypress and Nyssa from North America. In fact, there are claimed to be 14,500 trees here so you are sure to find a favourite. The pathways circle the lakes, taking you past the Pullham Falls cascade, and through the different glades. Make sure you visit the Cricket Pitch, which has hosted the legendary W.G. Grace. There is also a wider estate to explore outside of the formal garden where animals graze next to the River Ouse.
In October, professional forager, Megan Howlett, will be leading two tours of the garden, offering a chance to delve deeper into the gastronomical and medicinal history of the plants and mushrooms that grow under the spectacular trees. These events will sell out fast so book quickly.
The Gardens are home to a wonderful café but on your way home, why not pop into the 360° Brewery for some craft beer or cider to enjoy as the sun sets in The Grain Store’s garden.
The South Downs
Open the doors of The Grain Store and The South Downs are right there. The landscape around our place is predominantly chalk grassland, and this holds a unique beauty throughout the year. However, around a quarter of the park is covered in trees, and this means that the South Downs National Park is one of the most thickly-wooded in England and Wales.
Just under an hour from The Grain Store is Kingley Vale, which is famous for its gnarled yew trees - claimed to be among the oldest living things in this country. There are fables that these trees turn into human forms in the moonlight. Closer by is Friston Forest, which sits next to the stunning Seven Sisters Park with its white chalk cliffs and the River Cuckmere meandering through it.
Perhaps less dramatic, but no less beautiful are the pockets of ancient woodland that are a very short trip from The Grain Store - Markstakes Common and Beechland Mill Wood are both managed by the Woodland Trust; and then there’s Laughton Green Wood, which is being lovingly restored by local volunteers.
