National Trust Cymru has published a list of eight nature highlights to look out for across Wales this autumn, from fungi and red squirrels to rutting deer and seal pups.
Fungi: Autumn is the time to find fungi, from mushrooms to waxcaps, in the leaf litter under trees and on grassy lawns. Chirk Castle near Wrexham and Llanerchaeron by Aberaeron are among the suggested spots.
Red squirrels: Visitors to Plas Newydd House and Garden on Ynys Môn (Anglesey) may spot red squirrels, which live in the garden and woodlands. The squirrels do not hibernate, so there is a better chance of seeing them as the leaves fall.
Rutting deer: A herd of fallow deer roams the medieval Deer Park at Dinefwr near Llandeilo. In October, the bellows of the male bucks can be heard in the lead-up to the rutting season.
Arboretums: At Bodnant Garden near Conwy the acer trees turn crimson, amber and gold, while at Dyffryn Gardens near Cardiff the falling leaves of the Katsura trees give off the scent of toffee apples as they decay.
Seal pups: Grey seals come ashore to breed from August to November, and parents and their white pups can be seen on beaches around Pembrokeshire. The Wales Coast Path provides a vantage point, and the trust asks visitors not to disturb the seals by keeping quiet and out of sight, and to take care on the cliffs.
Apple orchards: The orchard at Tredegar House near Newport and the trained fruit trees in the Edwardian Garden at Powis Castle and Garden in Welshpool are at their best in autumn, with birds such as blackbirds and robins feeding on fallen fruit.
Birdlife: Autumn brings wildfowl to Stackpole Estate’s lakes in Pembrokeshire, including goosander and gadwall ducks alongside resident little grebes and moorhens. In the parkland around Erddig Hall and Garden in Wrexham, visitors can look for grey herons, dippers and kingfishers.
Weather watching: The trust suggests Rhosili on the Gower for wild seascapes and Penrhyn Castle and Garden near Bangor, where the weather can be seen changing across the summits of Eryri (Snowdonia).
More information is available at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wales.
