There is nothing so extraordinarily clear and distinct as the changing of the seasons from Summer to Autumn…

Those few days when green turns to yellow, then red, then orange, then finally brown are a real heralding of a new era, of the lingering days of summer being over and the warmth and cosy darkness of the winter approaching.

It feels a bit melancholic too, another season over, the end of another year approaching, and all around the trees are dying. As Regina Spektor so wisely said:

“Leaves become most beautiful
When they’re about to die
When they’re about to fall from trees
When they’re about to dry up”

For me this year, autumn arrived as we hit the hallowed three month mark, when everyone said having a new baby would get easier. And they’re right. As we settle into a routine, as we get to know each other better I am starting to feel more connected to Munchkin and starting to enjoy the family-filled life we’re building here.

One of our  most favourite things to do is to go for a walk at Westonbirt Arboretum, a 20 minute drive from our house. This stunning wood dates back to the mid 1800s when the Victorians were all madly collecting plants and trees. It was established by the Holford family and now has over 18,000 trees and shrubs planted along sweeping avenues and winding drives. The colours at Autumn are famous the world over, and throughout October and November the Arboretum sets up overflow carparks and traffic management as the queues extend far beyond the lengthy drive.

We are lucky enough to be able to go on quieter days, Monday mornings, Tuesday afternoons and Munchkin and I have spent some lovely hours pottering amidst the falling leaves. She loves lying in her pram and looking up at the trees above her, so it keeps us both happy and quiet for some time.

Despite the crowds, it is really worth going if you can. The woods are vast and exploring them can take as long as you want it to, meaning there’s plenty of scope for finding a quiet corner to relax and soak up the silence.

Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS