By Lucy Corkhill
16th September 2015
Autumn is one of the reasons I love living in the UK, because of how dramatically the natural world signals its shift from growth and abundance to decay and stillness, ready for the wheel of the year to begin again at Samhain at the end of October. So here is my list of the top ten reasons why Autumn is Awesome – please feel free to add your own!
1. The colours. Who can fail to be moved by the sight of trees aglow with red, orange and yellow leaves? Sometimes it looks as if they’re on fire.
2. The smell of bonfires. Autumn is truly here when you walk along the street of an evening and smell bonfires on the crisp cool air. Or when you have one in your own garden and watch the flames flickering and the smoke swirling up into the night sky, and the next morning your clothes smell pleasingly wood-smoked!
3. Fresh early morning. Sunrise is later now so there’s more of a chance I’ll get to enjoy it! I love the cold bright mornings, when cobwebs hang from the bushes sparkling with dew.
4. Kicking your feet through leaves in the woods. The childhood pleasure of fallen leaves still doesn’t fail to delight – making a big pile and leaping into them is of course de rigeur.
5. The earthy tang of decay. It’s hard to describe, but for me one of the first signs autumn is really here is the smell of wet earth when you’re walking through woodland. I think of it as the smell of the colour brown. Nature’s cycles come alive as you recognise the breaking down of summer’s abundance to create new fertile earth for spring’s re-emergence.
6. Nature’s abundance. Berries and apples abound in the hedgerows, and rosehips glow like rubies. There’s so much free food to be enjoyed at this time of year, it’s hard to keep on top of it all, but wandering along a country path whilst feasting on berries is such a treat.
7. Pumpkins. Growing like wild things in the garden, impressing everyone with their incredible size! Pumpkin pie, jack-o-lanterns glowing in windows, that bright orange colour – all make for an autumnal feel.
8. The sound of the geese flying overhead. I heard this for the first time a few days ago and felt in awe of the epic journey these geese are about to undertake. They looked incredible flying in V-formation, and made a hell of a lot of noise to let us know they were on their way!
9. Cosying up at home. Having just consulted my partner on this one, he says it’s all about those brisk days when it’s not yet really cold (and thus unpleasant!), but cool enough to really feel the benefit of a warm coat, or a blanket over your shoulders on the sofa.
10. Learning something new. Autumn always signals a time of learning – the classic back to school feeling. Whether it’s as simple as buying a crisp new notebook and pen, or a book that inspires you, or something larger like signing up for a life-changing course, it’s a chance to really engage with the wonder of knowledge.
