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Things to look out for in October

October sees the start of autumn with the wide variables in weather from the gales of 1987 to the last days of a summer heatwave.

Autumn colours reach their peak now before the leaves start to fall. As the trees become bare the fruit and berry harvest is revealed in all its glory. Winter thrushes such as Redwings and Fieldfares arrive to join our resident Blackbirds in the berry feast. Grey Squirrels are busy fattening up and storing hazel nuts and acorns for winter. The abundance of fungi continues in their many forms.

October also heralds one of the most dramatic events of the year …. the Red Deer rutting season when the males fight for their territories and their females. The clash of antlers and the roars of the males echo around the area. Knole Park and Wildwood are places to witness this behaviour.

On the coasts the migration of wintering birds are building up in the estuaries and coastal marshes. Ducks, geese and swans arrive from their northern European breeding grounds to take advantage of our milder winter weather.

Good places to visit in October

• Bedgebury Pinetum, near Goudhurst.
• Wildwood, near Herne Bay
• RSPB Reserve at Elmley (Isle of Sheppey)