On September 1st, explore the gentle transition from summer to autumn in September's Transition. Discover the rich tapestry of nature as berries, apples, and nuts ripen, and the landscape transforms with changing leaf colors and tangled hedgerows. Learn about the fascinating behaviors of insects, the quiet preparation of birds for migration, and the first appearances of brightly colored fungi.
Join us for an insightful journey through the early days of autumn, where every corner of nature is teeming with life and the first signs of seasonal change begin to appear. Whether you're a nature enthusiast or simply curious about the seasonal shifts, this article will captivate and inspire you.
September may feel like the tail-end of summer, but look closer and you’ll find nature still has plenty to show. While many wildflowers are fading, seed heads forming, and stalks turning skeletal, a surprising number of blooms thrive this month if you know where to look. Soapwort, golden rod, and michaelmas daisies are just hitting their stride, while wetlands burst with late summer colour from purple loosestrife to orange balsam. Even waste ground and railway embankments can surprise with ragwort, evening primroses, and rosebay willowherb. Seek out dirt tracks, woodland clearings, and marsh edges, and you may stumble across September’s hidden treasures—from parasitic dodder to the rare autumn ladies tresses.
Come back on September 2nd to discover the wildflowers that define the month!
September may feel like the end of the flowering season, but saltmarshes and downs still shimmer with life. On the tidal edges, purple sea asters—aptly named “Summer’s farewell”—create dazzling swathes, joined by sea lavender, marsh mallow, and the delicate hues of sea rocket and sea spurrey. Even edible treasures like sea beet and wild celery thrive along the estuaries. Further inland, the downs still carry late blooms of scabious, harebells, thyme, and the striking carline thistle, with its golden halo once used as a natural weather gauge. And just when you thought spring was long gone, September surprises with a “false spring,” as violets, speedwell, and even wild strawberries flower once again.
Come back on September 3rd to uncover the coastal and downland wonders still in bloom!
As September unfolds, the spotlight shifts to plants often overlooked through summer. Fleabanes, with their modest blooms and curious histories, suddenly stand tall in waste ground and gardens, reminding us of their far-flung origins and odd tales of flea-banishing fires. Alongside them, the woolly little cudweeds quietly line stony tracks and paths, their family ties stretching to the elegant Edelweiss. And then comes one of autumn’s most enchanting, yet deadly, flowers—the autumn crocus. Rising without leaves, its icy-pink petals dazzle even as its potent toxins whisper danger. From humble weeds to rare botanical jewels, this is a month for spotting subtle beauty in unexpected places.
Come back on September 4th to discover the quiet stars of early autumn!
Step into the living history of England’s hedgerows this September—where nature and tradition intertwine. Once planted to mark boundaries, enclose farmland, and even shape the patterns of our countryside, many hedges are centuries old, home to ancient trees, mossy banks, and hidden ditches. At this time of year, they’re alive with colour: crimson crab apples, ripening brambles, late blossoms, and leaves shifting to autumn hues. Spiders spin silver webs, insects prepare for winter, and birds and mammals bustle in the undergrowth. Some hedges even hold clues to their true age—field maples, spindles, and elm remnants whispering centuries of secrets. Whether for wildlife, history, or beauty, a September walk along a hedgerow is full of discoveries.
Return on September 5th to uncover the secrets of the hedgerow!
September brings one of nature’s most astonishing but often overlooked spectacles: the great autumn migration. Unlike the lively spring passage, this journey south is quieter, more secretive, and frequently takes place under the cover of darkness. Chiffchaffs, once persistent singers, vanish silently, while reed and sedge warblers slip away unnoticed. Keen eyes may spot rare waders on mudflats, swallows gathering in chattering flocks on wires, or even raptors like hobbies drawn to the commotion. Each visit to London’s reservoirs, marshes, or wetlands can reveal something new—sometimes even a rarity blown in by the weather. With thousands of birds in motion, the city itself becomes part of an epic natural drama, if only you know where—and when—to look.
Don’t miss this September spectacle—return on September 6th to read more!
September skies are alive with movement, as flocks of waders, waterfowl, and gulls transform London’s wetlands, reservoirs, and estuaries into staging grounds for migration. Starlings begin to swell in number, linnets chatter in large charms, and swallows and martins sweep southward in daylight, delighting watchers as they pass. Along the estuary, sandpipers, godwits, plovers, and redshanks gather in shifting groups, while ducks and geese arrive in impressive numbers—sometimes in the hundreds. Raptors like osprey and marsh harriers occasionally pass overhead, while rare visitors such as bluethroats, wrynecks, and Sabine’s gulls add unexpected excitement. Even terns can be seen diving or hawking insects as they continue their astonishing journeys. September offers no shortage of bird spectacles—you just need to know where to look.
Don’t miss these avian gatherings—return on September 7th to read more!
By early September, the sweet perfumes of summer give way to a different palette of aromas—earthy, spicy, medicinal, and sometimes downright odd. Evening primrose releases its delicate fragrance only at twilight to lure in moths, while tansy’s sharp, camphor-like scent has a history reaching back to royal banquets. Across London, wild celery, stinkweed, and black horehound make their pungent presence known, sometimes from dozens of yards away. Yet the month is not without pleasant surprises: the minty freshness of calamint, the almond notes of flowering rush and autumn lady’s-tresses, or the rosy scent of roseroot roots. Even the unlikely—walnut leaves smelling of balsam or borage flowers exuding cucumber juice—remind us that September is a month for the nose as much as the eyes.
Don’t miss this sensory journey—return on September 8th to read more!
As summer fades, September transforms the landscape into a patchwork of muted yet striking hues. Once-vivid greens soften to dusty tones, while bracken bronzes and reedbeds shift to pale purples. Across fields, the straw-yellow of stubble is lifted by purple scabious and pink centaury, while heaths blend soft heather purples with the sunshine yellow of gorse. In gardens and hedgerows, brighter splashes break through: crimson Virginia creeper, scarlet pimpernel, and the fiery reds of sheep sorrel or herb robert. Even wildlife joins the renewal—birds gleam in fresh plumage, and butterflies like the red admiral and peacock emerge more vibrant than ever. From harvest moons to hedgerows, September’s colours remind us that autumn’s beauty lies in richness and contrast.
Return on September 9th to explore the full spectrum!
By mid-September, the trees begin a quiet transformation. Leaves that once shimmered with spring light now darken, curl, and fall, carpeting the ground with soft rustles. Oaks, beeches, and poplars shed branches to conserve water after summer’s heat, while maples, cherries, and limes offer the first whispers of autumn colour. Surprises remain too: flowering eucalyptus, metallic-bronze red horse chestnuts, and cones tumbling from Douglas firs. Some trees fade to muted yellows, while others ignite in sudden reds—hinting at the full blaze of colour still weeks away. Wandering through parks and arboretums reveals both subtle shifts and dramatic contrasts, reminding us that the best of autumn is still to come.
Don’t miss the next step in the season’s story—check back on September 10th!
September carries with it a rare quiet. The buzzing of bees and the stridulating of grasshoppers fade, leaving space for the subtle voices of nature to be heard. Gentle breezes stir reedbeds into whispers, while the sound of running water grows more distinct in the stillness. Birds, too, slowly return to song—robins ticking, blackbirds tucking, and blue tits chiming lightly in the garden. Jays, wrens, and woodpeckers punctuate the hush of the woods, while swallows, martins, and skylarks add fleeting notes in open skies. As twilight falls, tawny owls call, foxes bark, and the night carries strange, passing cries. September is a month of quiet music—soft, scattered, and fleeting.
Don’t miss the next step in nature’s story—check back on September 11th!
By mid-September, the hedgerows, parks, and woods of London overflow with fruits and seeds—both nourishing and dangerous. Oaks drop acorns in abundance, hazelnuts ripen, and scarlet berries cover rowans, hawthorns, and pyracanthas. Thrushes, blackbirds, and pigeons feast greedily, while squirrels, mice, and jays scatter harvests beneath the trees. Yet, alongside the bounty are warnings: glossy black bryony and bittersweet berries tempt the eye but conceal deadly poisons. Even so, their strange histories—from Roman emperors to country herbalists—add to their allure. Sloes, rosehips, elderberries, and arum’s striking vermillion fruits ensure that every walk through woods or hedgerows becomes a discovery of both beauty and peril.
Don’t miss the next step in autumn’s harvest—check back on September 12th!
September’s hedgerows and gardens are bursting with berries—but beauty often hides danger. Deadly nightshade, with its glossy black fruits, grows quietly along the Thames and in London’s parks, its sweetness masking a fatal dose. Yews in churchyards tempt with pink jelly-like arils, though their seeds can still the heart in minutes. On the downs, guelder roses glow like coral beads, dogwoods flaunt blood-red stems, and buckthorns provide food for birds despite their violent purgative powers. Privet, so familiar in gardens, carries black fruits toxic enough to kill. For a safer spectacle, Wisley’s arboretum offers a dazzling collection of crab apples, rowans, whitebeams, and rare ornamentals, from jewel-like Solomon’s seal to the strawberry-pink fruits of Cornus kousa.
Check back on September 13th for the next autumn treasure.
As September advances, butterfly numbers begin to dwindle—but warm, sunny days can still bring dazzling displays. While short-lived species like the small heath and meadow brown fade, late broods of large, colourful butterflies emerge in their brightest livery. Gardens often play host to red admirals, peacocks, painted ladies, commas, and small tortoiseshells, sometimes gathering in spectacular congregations on flowers or windfallen fruit. For rarer sightings, chalk downland offers treasures such as the clouded yellow, brown hairstreak, and the brilliant Adonis blue—described as the “bluest blue in the world.” Even a few skippers and whites may linger into the month. Whether in gardens or on downs, September’s butterflies reward the patient watcher with vivid flashes of colour before autumn truly sets in.
Check back on September 14th for the next autumn treasure.
Mid-September still brings a wealth of butterflies, especially among the browns. Meadow browns, gatekeepers, speckled woods, walls, small heaths, and even the elusive grayling may be seen—though identification can be tricky when several share the same patch of grassland or woodland. Watch for subtle differences: the “eyes” of the gatekeeper, the buff patches of the speckled wood, or the pale grey shades of the small heath. Among rarer finds, the brown hairstreak shines as one of Britain’s most beautiful butterflies, though females descend from ash treetops only briefly to lay eggs on blackthorn. Small coppers bring a flash of fiery orange to commons and roadside banks, while immigrants like painted ladies and, in lucky years, sulphur-bright clouded yellows add a final, spectacular flourish.
Check back on September 15th for the next autumn treasure.
Mid-September is full of drama in the mammal world. London’s young foxes, badgers, and hedgehogs are now independent, learning the challenges of survival and seeking their own territories. Fox cubs, now with adult colours, nap curled in quiet gardens, while young hedgehogs roam far at night in search of windfall fruit and insects. Badger families remain close-knit, raiding wasp nests and enjoying apples and fungi. The great spectacle of the month is the red deer rut: stags with burnished antlers strut and challenge rivals, especially in Richmond Park, while fallow deer prepare their unique palmate antlers for next month’s battles. Rabbits and hares graze peacefully, each with their own preferences, as autumn’s fruits and seeds provide plenty for herbivores. September is a time of restlessness, rivalry, and survival.
Check back on September 16th for the next autumn treasure.
September brings a lively showcase of Britain’s smallest and most secretive mammals. Harvest mice balance delicately on wheat and barley, while field mice scramble for blackberries and dormice raid apple stores. Water voles, betrayed by a sudden ‘plop’ into the water, are on the move to claim new territories. Above ground, squirrels dash past with nuts stuffed in their mouths, while stoats and weasels stalk the glut of young prey, their movements giving them away. Underground, young moles tirelessly rebuild their winding tunnels, their powerful shoulders heaving the soil into fresh molehills. As dusk falls, the skies come alive with bats – pipistrelles, Daubenton’s and noctules – feasting, courting, and even calling for mates. September is a month of harvest and hidden drama in the mammal world.
September signals the grand opening of the fungi season, when woodlands, meadows, and even roadsides erupt with an astonishing variety of shapes, colours, and scents. Though fungi appear throughout the year, nothing compares to the sheer abundance of autumn fruiting. Britain boasts around 3,000 larger fungi, but the total rises to an incredible 14,000 when smaller species are counted. Esher Common, with over 3,000 species recorded, is one of the richest sites in the temperate world. Ancient woodlands like Epping Forest and Burnham Beeches offer dazzling displays, from inkcaps and boletes to sulphur tufts and earthballs. The mix of tree roots, rotting wood, and shifting weather produces ever-changing surprises. For those willing to explore, each September walk can reveal dozens, even hundreds, of these mysterious “fruits” of the fifth kingdom.
Step into the hidden world of London’s mushrooms this September and discover the fascinating diversity of agarics. From the familiar supermarket button mushroom to the rare and exotic field mushroom, these fungi thrive quietly in grasslands, parks, and even pine woods around the city. Learn to spot the edible from the poisonous, including the notorious Yellow-stainer that can make you very ill, and the delicately fragrant A. vaporarius, prized for its liquorice scent. Whether you’re foraging for a delicious meal or simply exploring nature’s hidden gems, this guide offers tips on identification, safety, and the best spots to find them.
Return on September 19th to explore the full story of London’s extraordinary agarics.
September is prime time to explore London’s forests and parks for the extraordinary world of boletes. Recognisable by their thick stems and pillow-like caps with pores instead of gills, boletes include some of the most prized edible fungi in the world. From the legendary porcini (or penny bun) to the dramatic blue-staining B. erythropus, these mushrooms delight both foragers and nature enthusiasts alike. Most species are easy to identify, but a few—like Satan’s bolete—should be avoided. Londoners flock to veteran oaks, mossy banks, and historic deer parks, carefully hunting for these hidden gems. Whether you’re seeking delicious finds or simply admiring their colours and textures, the world of boletes is rich and rewarding.
Return on September 20th to uncover London’s bolete wonders.
September in London’s woodlands brings forth a fascinating array of boletes—mushrooms with character as varied as their names. From the scaly-stemmed birch boletes with their sooty-speckled stalks to the bright orange-capped L. versipelle, each species tells its own story. Some are modest edibles enjoyed by foragers, while others—like the prized Slippery Jacks—are cherished by London’s Chinese community for their texture and culinary versatility. And then there are the real curiosities: tiny boletes growing out of earthballs, or the unforgettable “Old Man of the Woods,” a rare, cone-like mushroom cloaked in black scales. These fungal treasures are reminders of the hidden wonders thriving in London’s commons and heaths.
Return on September 21st to discover the full story of these mysterious boletes!
September brings a dazzling parade of brittlegills—one of Britain’s most beautiful and diverse mushroom families. With over 140 species, these fungi light up woodlands in reds, purples, yellows, greens, and browns, their jewel-like caps perched on delicate white stems. Each brittlegill has its own story: some smell of honey, roses, or even boiled sweets, while others are fiery to taste—so hot they challenge even seasoned mycologists. The prized Charcoal Burner shines in shifting violet, blue, and green, while the Yellow Swamp Russula gleams lemon-bright among moss. From Kent to London’s commons, these fragile mushrooms delight the eye and intrigue the senses, even if many crumble at the slightest touch.
Return on September 22nd to explore the enchanting brittlegills in all their colours!
By late September, London’s gardens are bursting with colour and character, even as summer fades. Towering sunflowers still chase the sky, while brilliant salvias, asters, hibiscus, and Japanese anemones fill borders with life. Exotic treasures—once confined to conservatories—now thrive outdoors, from the vivid blue Ceratostigma of China to South Africa’s glowing kaffir lilies. Autumn bulbs also shine this month: the delicate cyclamens, the historic colchicums with their luminous blooms, and the striking nerines that first washed ashore by chance in the Channel Islands. Every flower carries a tale, from ancient Incan sun worship to Victorian legends like Miss Wilmott’s ghostly sea holly. Together, they weave a tapestry of history, myth, and dazzling colour.
Return on September 23rd to explore the living jewels of London’s September gardens!
September’s gardens and parks shift their focus from bright summer blossoms to fruits, foliage, and a handful of late-blooming surprises. Hawthorn, roses, and elder hang heavy with berries, while spindle and guelder rose dazzle with fiery leaves. Exotic newcomers add unexpected shocks of colour: the pink powder-puff flowers of the silk tree, the creamy-white blooms of magnolia grandiflora, and the strange, turquoise-blue berries of Clerodendrum framed in crimson sepals. Ancient plants carry myths as well as beauty—like the sacred myrtle, once revered by Greeks, Romans, and Persians for its fragrance and symbolism. Other shrubs, from abelias to crepe myrtles, remind us of the daring plant hunters who risked everything to bring them home.
Return on September 24th to discover shrubs and trees alive with history, legend, and colour!
As summer fades, so too does the vibrant aerial ballet of London’s dragonflies. By late September, the skies grow quieter—charming chasers, dainty damselflies, and shimmering skimmers have all but vanished. Only a few hardy hawkers, darting darters, and elusive emeralds remain, offering a rare chance to hone your identification skills. From the dazzling blues of the migrant hawker to the metallic greens of the last emerald damselflies, this is a fleeting window to experience the season’s final flights. Whether you're scanning ponds at Richmond Park or tracing loops at Wimbledon Common, nature’s miniature marvels still have stories to tell—if you know where to look.
Return on September 25th to uncover the last dance of London’s dragonflies!
September is the month when wasps make their presence impossible to ignore. Once busy feeding their young with insects and rewarded with sweet secretions, common wasps now find themselves hungry and restless as their colonies collapse. Deprived of their usual diet, they turn to gardens, lawns, and ivy flowers in search of sugar, often causing alarm with their persistent buzzing. Yet not all wasps are as they seem—London is home to German, Tree, Red, and Norwegian wasps, each with their own distinct markings and nesting habits, as well as the intimidating but surprisingly docile hornet. Add in the harmless wood wasps and sinister parasitic ichneumons, and the world of wasps proves stranger than fiction.
Be sure to return on September 26th for the full story!
As summer slips into autumn, not all color changes in the landscape are signs of seasonal beauty. Many are the hidden work of pests and diseases quietly shaping the look of leaves, stems, and fruit. From yellow streaks caused by viruses to black tar spots on sycamores, lacebug-speckled rhododendrons, and caterpillar-chewed holes in roses, each blemish tells a story of unseen battles. Aphids twist leaves, sawflies roll and skeletonize them, and fungi leave their marks as moulds, cankers, and dieback. Even beneath the soil, wireworms, eelworms, and cutworms gnaw unseen at roots and stems. These subtle signs remind us that the natural world is always a delicate balance between growth and decay.
Be sure to return on September 27th for the full story!
If you’ve ever noticed strange, winding patterns or blotches on your garden leaves, you might be seeing the handiwork of leaf miners. These tiny creatures, from moths to flies, burrow into leaves, creating tunnels filled with waste, warmth, and humidity. September is the peak of their activity, with the second generation larvae tunneling through your plants. Horse chestnuts are particularly affected, leaving behind characteristic brown blotch mines. While these little miners may seem harmless, their rapid life cycles and massive infestations can threaten entire trees. Curious to learn more about these fascinating creatures and their impact on our gardens? Come back on September 28th for the full story!
September nights are alive with moths of every shape, size, and colour. From the elegant Jersey Tiger, with its cream stripes and fiery orange hindwings, to the dazzling Peach Blossom that looks as if petals have fallen on its wings, there is no shortage of beauty after dark. Some moths, like the Hummingbird hawkmoth, hover at flowers by day, while others such as the Frosted Orange or Grey Shoulder-knot reveal themselves only under torchlight or by garden lamps. Even rarities like the Great Brocade may put in a surprise appearance. Whether common garden visitors or spectacular wanderers, moths make this month a feast for the keen-eyed observer. Return on September 29th to discover the full story of September’s moths!
As September draws to a close, the diversity of moths is dazzling. From the emerald Brindled Green to the fiery yellows and oranges of the Sallows, the month is painted with colour. The Canary-shouldered Thorn glows with its bright thorax, while the Copper Underwing flashes copper brilliance when disturbed. Marshlands hide the Wainscots, ivy flowers attract Quakers with their crisp wing-lines, and the Pearly Underwing shimmers like mother-of-pearl. Some, like the Sword-grass, disguise themselves as twigs, while others, like the Brown-tailed moth, are remembered more for their rash-inducing caterpillars than their appearance. With such variety in form, pattern, and behaviour, September proves itself a feast for the night-time observer. Return on September 30th to discover the full spectrum of moths at month’s end!