Will our balmy summer turn into a New England fall?
Mild summer weather could now pave the way for a breathtaking explosion of yellows and golds, climaxing with a dazzling autumn this October. Help us to look out now for the first signs of autumn, says the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.
Autumnwatch, a survey run by the BBC and the Woodland Trust, is already receiving reports of early tints on trees in some drought-hit parts of the UK, including Scotland, which experienced the third driest July since records began.
Nick Collinson of the Woodland Trust says: “At the moment it’s too early to say exactly what the picture will be across the UK. If rainfall in certain areas remains at average levels and late summer temperatures are warm we expect to see delayed leaf tint, but in those areas where we have a dry late summer, with lots of sunshine, then an earlier change in the leaves is possible – and maybe even some dazzling results.
“We have lots of data to show that spring is starting earlier and earlier but we don’t have as good a picture of how climate change is affecting autumn. We need you to let us know exactly what is happening in your area at this time of year.”
Autumnwatch is urging everyone to keep a look out for the first hint of a tint in our oaks and record the date they first see this traditional sign of autumn by going online at www.bbc.co.uk/autumnwatch or by calling 0800 083 7497.
Autumnwatch is the biggest survey ever of the first signs of autumn run by the BBC and the Woodland Trust. As well are recording the first oak leaf tint, volunteers are urged to note the timing of ripe blackberries, migrating swifts, ripe hawthorn berries, conkers and flowering ivy.
The initiative is part of the Trust’s work to monitor the impact of climate change on our plants and wildlife. Brambles are flowering earlier in the spring which means that blackberries, the fruits, are also ripening earlier. This is something that could illustrate a wider problem for animals that rely on stored energy from autumn fruits to help them hibernate later on.
The records from Autumnwatch will contribute towards the UK Phenology Network, a project run in partnership with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and carried out by thousands of volunteers across the UK. Each recorder makes a vital contribution to climate research - and anyone can take part. It is fun, easy and free.
Autumnwatch results will be revealed in a one-off programme on BBC TWO called Wild Autumn with Bill Oddie, which follows this year’s hugely successful Springwatch with Bill Oddie.
Notes to editors:
For media enquiries contact:
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121,
email: media@woodland-trust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust:The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland. Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free. Further news can be found via this website.
BBC: For further information on Autumnwatch contact Debbie Chapman BBC Publicity on 0117 974 7731 or ,
email: debbie.chapman@bbc.co.uk
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH): The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) is the UK's leading research organisation for land and freshwater science. Its 500 scientists carry out research to improve our understanding of both the environment and the processes that underlie the Earth's support systems. It is one of the Natural Environment Research Council's research centres. CEH has 8 research sites within England, Scotland and Wales and an administrative headquarters based at Swindon.
Phenology: It is the study of the timing of natural seasonal events, especially in relation to climate. The timing of natural events is sometimes known as ‘Nature’s calendar’.
Oak tint definition: Volunteers are urged to record the date and place they see the first hint of autumn colour in an oak tree, when around 10 per cent of its leaves start to change colour.
Why do leaves change colour? Early in the year, when there is plenty of light, the leaves produce chlorophyll – the green colour in grass stains. This is used to convert sunlight into energy which the leaf stores as sugar. Chlorophyll isn’t the only pigment, (red) anthocyanin and (yellow) carotene, the main colour in carrots, are also present. Just like a grass stain, the chlorophyll covers up all of the other colours in the leaf making it appear green. However, as light and temperature drop at the end of the summer, the leaves stop making chlorophyll and it breaks down revealing the colours underneath. Beech and maple, which have more anthocyanin have red leaves in autumn while hazel and birch have more carotene and yellow autumn leaves. The intensity of the colour in the leaves is controlled by how concentrated the stored sugar is. The more concentrated the sugar, the better the colours. After a hot, dry summer with cool nights, the sugar is particularly concentrated and we get the benefit in a spectacular autumn.
