Step into the woods and explore five wild wonders of the autumn forest and where you can find them.
One of the most beautiful times of year in woodlands is when the leaves change to shades of yellow ochre, browns and rusty reds. Mushrooms emerge from the forest floor, and trees offer a bounty of nuts and berries as woodland critters prepare for the winter ahead.
I would love to introduce you to five wild wonders that can be discovered in an autumn woodland from wildlife and birds to forest fungi.
I'll share how and where best to discover these wild wonders for yourself in your own local autumnal woodlands and introduce you to the artwork inspired by them.
So here we go. Let's explore the wild and wonderful woods!
1. Red Squirrels
The Red Squirrel is a favourite when it comes to woodland wildlife. Native to the UK, they are most at home up in the trees foraging for pine nuts, seeds and fungi.
They are endearing little creatures, stowing away food for the long winter months, in fact one of the best times to see them is in the autumn as they prepare for the colder season ahead.
Where to find a red squirrel in autumn?
They are rare to come by now as they fight for food and habitat taken by their grey cousins. They do still have some strongholds in the UK where they are supported through ongoing conservation efforts. Their habitat is mixed broad-leaf and conifer woodland and although usually they keep to the trees, in autumn they can be seen busy on the forest floor preparing for the winter ahead.
If you’re interested in trying to spot a Red Squirrel in the wild then take a look at the National Trust’s handy guide.
Red Squirrel I & Red Squirrel II Art Prints
These two red squirrel art prints feature these lovely critters in their woodland habitat surrounded by forest foliage and flora, including Scots pine, hawthorn, wild cherry, hazel and of course some woodland mushrooms.
2. Fly Agaric
All sorts of woodland fungi can be found in autumn and it's a really great time to get out and do a bit of mushroom spotting!
A particularly enchanting find to stumble across in any autumnal woodland is a group of wonderfully fairy tale-like Fly Agaric. Easily identified by their red and white caps, these mushrooms are gems of the forest floor.
Where to find fly agaric mushrooms in autumn?
As with many mushrooms, the mycelium (the tiny network found beneath the soil from which the mushrooms are the fruiting bodies) are often closely linked with certain trees. In the case of Fly Agaric, they can often be seen close to birch trees. So if you're nearby by a birch woodland between August - November, keep an eye on the ground as you'll be in a good position to spot this enchanting forest fungi.
This art print features a small cluster of the enchanting Fly Agaric mushroom, bright and bold against autumn foliage.
3. Jay
Jays are often shy birds, but in autumn they get to work and can be seen in and around oak trees, collecting and burying acorns for the winter ahead.
These foraging birds have a wonderful relationship with the oak tree - the oak offers a food supply for the jay over a long, sparse winter whereas the jay acts as a seed spreader for the oak, as any buried but forgotten acorns are given the chance at life as a new seedling oak.
Where to find a jay in autumn?
In autumn you may be lucky enough to spot a Jay nearby oak trees burying their acorns for the colder months ahead. Otherwise if you're on a woodland walk keep an eye for movement between the trees and a flash of the distinctive blue colouring of a Jays wing.
This artwork really has the changing season at its heart, featuring a jay surrounded by autumnal oak, acorns, rowan berries and bramble.
4. Blackbirds
Blackbirds can be heard and seen all year around in woodlands, gardens, parks and the countryside. They are a common and well loved bird, and if you have a garden you'll likely have your own regular visitor who helps themselves to the odd tasty worm.
Where to find a blackbird in autumn?
In autumn, the abundance of berries that many trees offer makes them a brilliant food source for so many birds and other woodland critters. You'll likely find all sorts of birds making the most of the abundance of autumn berries, including the wonderful blackbird.
If you want to encourage them into your garden check out this blog here by the woodland trust where they share what blackbirds eat and how to feed them.
This blackbird artwork features both a beautiful male and female blackbird in an autumnal woodland of rowan, hazel and bramble.
5. Bramble
Woodlands become bountiful with fruits and nuts from trees and plants from late summer signalling the approaching autumnal season. This food source is so important for wild critters as they stock up and prepare for the cold winter days ahead. As well as a welcome sight for those of us who enjoy a little foraging! And bramble supplies us with an abundance of blackberries to enjoy from woodland edges and countryside hedgerows.
Where to find brambles in autumn?
Bramble is a hugely common plant, they crop up everywhere! They are easy to find along forest tracks and woodland edges.
If you're interested in gathering some of these tasty forest fruits yourself this autumn then you could take a look at the Woodland Trusts blog post to help give you blackberry foraging tips and recipes to try.
The bramble art print features this wonderful plant through the seasons, as it grows white flowering blooms in spring to the well-loved blackberry fruits of early autumn.
I really hope you enjoyed our wander through the autumn woods and our exploration of these five wild woodland wonders and where to find them.
Autumn is a wonderful time to explore nature and discover wildlife, plants, mushrooms and other wild finds. I know I will be out and about this autumn exploring and gathering inspiration for new paintings!
& if you have your own favourite wild wonder that you love to see in autumn then leave a comment and share below!