7 Best things about autumn with the National Trust

Autumn colour walks

This had to be our number 1. Seeing our woods turn a kaleidoscope of yellows, bronze and burnt orange is a beautiful gift of nature before winter draws in. Two of the best places to see autumn colour in Hampshire are:

Hinton Ampner (nr Alresford) – the four-mile waymarked Dutton Estate Walk starts just beyond the gardens and takes you across farmland and country lanes into towering beech woods. Here you can stroll along wide rides under a ‘roof’ of copper and yellow foliage. There are fine views too over this 1,600 acre estate, and if you take a detour into the parkland on the way back you can walk beneath the buttery canopies of ancient chestnuts and oaks (some over 500 years old), interspersed by the rich red and purple of Norway maple trees.

Mottisfont (nr Romsey) – although you’re starting this six-mile walk at Spearywell car park a few minutes’ drive from the gardens, the route takes you close to the grounds on the way back, so you can pop in for refreshments if you want to. The walk showcases some of the best of Hampshire countryside – you’ll cross historic farmland where hedges replanted for wildlife are full of birds in autumn. Paths wind through old woodlands too – of chestnut, oak and beech in full autumn colour, and areas of hazel coppice that are actively managed to create habitats for animals including dormice.

PICTURED ABOVE: Hinton Ampner kitchen garden in autumn | National Trust Images, Chris Davies

Mottisfont gourd theatre | National Trust Images, Sophie Wilkinson

Harvest

The wheat and barley have been gathered in and the blackberries have been early this year but there’s plenty more harvest in our walled gardens and orchards
to enjoy.

Mottisfont – harvest is celebrated in style here throughout October. The kitchen garden looks splendid, with raised beds full of produce, elegant, espaliered apple trees, and colourful gourd displays – perfect for autumn pics. This is a lovely place to sit and soak up autumn sun, and in the adjoining Gardener’s Cottage there are seasonal gardening tips. On the lawns, kids can help the garden team by gathering fallen leaves for compost-making, using mini wheelbarrows and rakes to fill special leaf bins. And inside the house you’ll find autumn-themed floral displays.

Hinton Ampner – in this pretty walled garden from mid-October you’ll find beautiful pumpkin displays, overseen by a resident scarecrow and his little dog. Look out for giant onions, blushing apples, and vibrant companion planting. The front door of the house is decorated with a beautiful harvest-style wreath of dried botanicals and fresh long-lasting flowers including dahlias and hydrangeas. Note: house closed until 26 November

Apple days (29 & 30 October): hosted by Sparsholt Agricultural College, this is an opportunity to find out more about heritage apple varieties, with tastings and growing advice.

The Vyne – autumn colour against summerhouse | National-Trust, Virginia-Langer

The Vyne (nr Basingstoke) – from the walled garden you can stroll up to the house through an orchard full of heritage fruit varieties – a traditional mix of apple, pear, and plum cultivars with some fabulous names such as apples Beauty of Hampshire, Frogmore Prolific and Catshead. If you’re lucky, you’ll find fruit available to take home too (for a small donation).

Mottisfont estate in autumn | National Trust Images, Hugh Mothersole

Half-term family fun

Harvest Folklore Trail at Hinton Ampner, 15 – 30 October, £2. Discover the folklore of Hampshire in this sensory trail, including a Winchester giant, a Burley dragon, and some pesky New Forest pixies. Follow the toadstools around the garden to learn about the mysterious beasts that are rumoured to live nearby, then have fun creating your own fairytale.

Hallowe’en fun at The Vyne, 22 October – 1 November, £2 (inc prize). There’s spooky fun for different ages in the gardens of this old mansion. Little ones can hunt for familiar Hallowe’en characters including witches and wizards, whilst for older children (8+) there’s a riddle to crack. Grab a quest sheet and follow the map to solve the brain-teasers.

Autumn colour hunt at The Vyne, 6 September – 20 November, £1 per hunt card. The Vyne’s gardens are full of gorgeous autumnal shades. Pick up your special autumn colour hunt disc from visitor reception, and begin your search for all things red, yellow and bronze in the grounds. *There’s an inclusive colour-blind alternative trail available called featuring leaf shapes.

Adventure trail at Mottisfont, 24 – 30 October, £1. Over half term, there’s loads to get stuck into at Mottisfont. Outdoors, there’s a new seasonal trail with autumn-themed activities, plus mini wheelbarrows to collect leaves for composting. Indoors, kids can explore a world of talking beasts and magic, with an exhibition of Narnia artwork (24 September – 6 November).

H.G. Wells at Uppark trail, 15 – 30 October, £2. H.G. Wells is one of our most famous sci-fi writers and he spent much of his time at Uppark as a child, where his mother was the housekeeper. Try out the fun actions in this sensory trail to discover what inspired Bertie to create such marvellous stories as The Invisible Man and The Time Machine. Look through a telescope, discover puppets, and make music for dancing to help you create your very own story. This trail is also designed to be enjoyed by children who are blind or partially sighted.

Willow basket workshop – Field Farm Project

Try something new

Some people see new year as the time to try a new skill, but for many of us, the tradition of starting new things in autumn is ingrained from schooldays. After the long lazy days of summer, we often have an urge to be productive and get creative.

Willow frame basket workshop with Field Farm Project, 17 October, 10am – 4.30pm, £75 per person, book at https://fieldfarmproject.com/project/nt-willow-frame-baskets-workshop/

These simple and rustic baskets are a great way to start your weaving journey. Using a mix of different coloured willows and hazel for the structure you’ll make your own durable basket suitable for all sorts of uses, from collecting cut flowers and garden produce, to general shopping.

Sculpting ceramic otters family workshop with Tash Fry, 25 October, 11am – 1pm. Child £15 (suitable for ages 7+), adult £25, book on 0344 249 1895 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winchester-city-mill

In this family-friendly workshop, local ceramicist Tash Fry will teach you how to create little otter figures using a simple hand-pinching technique. Using sculpting tools and carving techniques you’ll add texture and personality to your otters, finishing with a decorative ceramic slip in a variety of lovely colours. The otters will be fired afterwards; allow up to four weeks for this. This workshop is the perfect activity for families to relax into some creative fun whilst learning about the Mill’s resident otters. No previous experience is necessary.

Christmas dinner set ceramics class with Tash Fry, 22 & 23 November, 6 – 8pm, £45 per person, book on 0344 249 1895 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winchester-city-mill

Allow local ceramicist Tash Fry to introduce you to the art of hand-building functional ceramics this Christmas, as you sculpt your very own tableware, for yourself or for gifts. Using hand-pinching and slab rolling techniques, you’ll create several pieces, from dinner plates and serving platters to wine tumblers and candlestick holders. The choice is up to you. Allow up to four weeks for your pieces to be fired. No previous experience is necessary.

Christmas wreath making workshop with Field Farm Project, 28 & 29 November, 4.30 – 7pm, £45, book on 0344 249 1895 or at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winchester-city-mill

Join us inside ancient Winchester City Mill to make your own natural festive wreath using a base of willow and selected greenery. There’ll be a wide assortment of decorations to use, including fragrant pine cones, seed heads, teasels and berries, finished off with pretty ribbons to create a really eye-catching rustic design. All materials are supplied by Field Farm Project

Conker hunting at Mottisfont | National Trust Images, Arnhel de Serra

Conkers

Conkers deserve a category of their own. There’s something very satisfying about popping a perfect shiny brown conker from its fleshy casing. They’re so wonderfully collectible, and great for that much-loved traditional autumn game of course. You could try propagating a new tree too! If you’re an inveterate conker-collector, you’ll find horse chestnut trees at:

Mottisfont – stately horse chestnuts can be found following the main path through the gardens from the car park.

Hinton Ampner – there’s a big tree on the south lawn close to the house, renowned good conker crops.

The Vyne – you should find your treasure from the moment you get to the woods – easy to access along broad paths from the garden.

Rainy days

Bear with us on this one. On sunny days in this country we’re hardwired to ‘make the most of it’. This can mean that we’re so busy chasing the vitamin D that we don’t have the time or energy to explore the interior of a place. A rainy day in autumn is a great excuse to leave the dog at home and prioritise an exploration of the huge variety of grand, stately, modest, rustic, domestic and quirky houses and buildings that we look after in and around Hampshire, some of which close in the winter. You’ll find some new surprises too….

Tales of Narnia: the artwork of Pauline Baynes exhibition – at Mottisfont
24 September – 6 November, normal property admission only (free to NT members)

In Mottisfont’s top floor gallery, discover a fantastical world of magic, danger, and talking mythical beasts as drawn by Pauline Baynes, the original artist for C.S Lewis’s famous series of children’s books. These delightful artworks feature best-loved creatures and characters from all seven books, including Aslan and Mr Tumnus, as well as Lucy, Edmond, Susan and Peter.

Incredible histories – at The Vyne
Soak up 500 years of history at this former Tudor ‘power house’, just 20 minutes from the M3. The Vyne was a favourite of Henry VIII’s and today, you can take in the sounds of a

16th-century mass as Henry would have heard it, when you visit the exquisite Tudor chapel. Legend has it that the chapel’s jewel-like stained glass was hidden in a pond during the Civil War to protect it from rampaging Roundheads. There are 18th-century ‘Grand Tour’ treasures too, and tapestries full of fantastical scenes from Asian folklore, recently returned from conservation.

Psst: the mansion is known to be haunted; look out for the lady in grey, sometimes seen in the chapel.

An 18th-century party house – at Uppark
Open Thursday to Sunday until 30 October (re-opens on 24 November for Christmas)

After Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh inherited Uppark in 1774, this exquisite mansion became known for its legendary parties, lasting three days when the Prince of Wales visited, with gambling, and horse racing. Today, the ground floor rooms offer a beguiling view of life in a fine country house, decorated with sumptuous French furniture and captivating Italian paintings. Look out for the gorgeous black japanned ‘pagoda’ cabinet in the Little Parlour, and the 6ft dolls’ house, complete with miniature oil paintings, hallmarked silver and real candles. There are servants’ quarters to explore too, telling the story of life below stairs. Talking of which, find out how Sir Harry proposed to dairy maid Mary Ann Bullock…

World-famous art in a ‘Holy Box’ – at Sandham Memorial Chapel
Open Thursday to Sunday until 13 November

This little red-brick building tucked away in the quiet village of Burghclere, houses an unexpected treasure – an epic series of large-scale murals, by the acclaimed war artist Sir Stanley Spencer. The artworks were inspired by Spencer’s own experiences as a medical orderly and soldier in the First World War, and the paintings are peppered with personal and unexpected details, and uniquely shows the everyday activities rather than the horrors of war. There are delights outside too: a pretty garden at the back, and an old apple orchard at the front, with seating, and beautiful views across to Watership Down.

The Vyne lake in autumn | National Trust Images, Virginia Langer

Nature moments

Autumn is a time of dramatic change, as landscapes and wildlife prepare for the colder months ahead. Here are some seasonal nature sights to look out for:

Fungi – the New Forest is famous for its fungi; there are over 1,700 different species. In autumn, the woods and grassy lawns of our New Forest commons are littered with exotic shapes and colours. They play a vital role in the Forest’s ecology, providing both food for other wildlife, as well as nutrients to trees, and are highly protected. Look out for the red and white fly agaric (often found under birch trees) and the flat capped honey fungus (often found in clusters on the trunks of trees).

Migrating birds – although autumn sees summer visitors like swallows and swifts departing, it also brings in the first of our wintering birds. The Vyne’s wetlands, just a short distance from the gardens, are a great place to witness this. Created from ancient water meadows, it gradually fills with such exotic creatures as the chestnut-headed teal, which travels from as far afield as Siberia.

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