Usually around this time of year
Autumn colour
A few weeks when the trees go gold, red and orange.
When and where to look
Autumn, spreading over several weeks. Different trees turn at different times, and city trees often turn later than those in the countryside nearby.
Why it happens
As days shorten, trees stop making the green chlorophyll in their leaves, revealing the yellows and oranges underneath. Some trees also make new red pigments, which tend to be brighter after sunny days and cool nights.
How to catch one
- Watch the same tree for a few weeks and see the change day to day.
- Look up, then down: fallen leaves show the colour the canopy had.
- Low autumn sun behind leaves makes them glow.
Nature notifications
Wildlife, seasonal changes, weather and sky events near you.