Autumn activities to get you out and enjoying nature

By now you’ll be noticing the full affects of autumn – beautiful golden colours and perhaps even a frosty morning or two.

This is one of nature’s great events, and there are a number of ways you can appreciate it. With the return of BBC’s Autumnwatch, we’ve been inspired to compile a list of things to get you out and about before the first snow falls!

	Make a home for nature This is a great activity you can enjoy in your own garden. Autumn is the time of year when small mammals hibernate, squirrels cache food and birds fatten themselves up for winter. You can build a hedgehog home, and make feeders in preparation for colder days when food is scarce. The RSPB have a great list of ways you can give nature a home!
	Spy on the wildlife Every season has its bonuses when it comes to wildlife spotting, and autumn is no exception. The red deer are rutting, birds can be seen gobbling the last of the berries and red squirrels are manically stashing nuts and seeds away for the winter. The Caledonian forest is a great place to witness this, and as the lush greenery of summer dies back, spotting woodland wildlife is much easier.
	Take a walk Getting out on foot is a wonderful way of witnessing the changing seasons. By now the broadleaf trees are showing their wonderful orange colours, and there may even be crisp frosts and morning mists to add to the atmospheric woodland. We’ve listed some great places to visit the Caledonian Forest here. If you’re after a guided walk, Wilderness Scotland and About Argyll can show you the way.
	Geocaching Join a worldwide treasure hunt! Geocaching allows you to explore places you may have never been before with the added bonus of finding treasure! This is a wonderful, family-friendly way of getting outdoors and having a rummage amongst the leaves. Take a look at this geocaching guide.
	Have a road trip We’re not going to lie, the Highlands are vast and there is just so much to see! If you have more time, why not take a road trip. Highland Campervans and Highland Hobo both offer self-driven tours where you can park up wherever you fancy and take in the landscape overnight. Alternatively, if you’re braver, take a tent. Wild camping is completely legal in Scotland but please follow the Outdoor Access Code! The colder temperatures make for a clear atmosphere; meaning stargazing is a must!
	Be creative Autumn is a truly inspiring time of year, when the woodland colours are at their best. Why not try drawing or painting? It will give you a fantastic opportunity to appreciate the small details of the forest. Alternately, you can get crafty – make leaf collages or tree bark rubbings. Jackson’s Art Supplies will get you started!
	Get gardening For the gardeners amongst us, we don’t need to tell you that there’s a lot to do at this time of year before the snow starts to fall and wild weather becomes a regular visitor. Have you collected your seeds and taken your cuttings? Now is also a great time to plant trees and shrubs. But don’t forget to batten down the hatches! Simpsons Garden Centre can help you with your gardening needs.

The organisations mentioned in this blog have been part of Trees for Life Corporate Sponsors, meaning they are actively reducing their carbon footprint while helping to restore the Caledonian Forest.