Autumn officially begins on 22 September 2017 – so it's time to revel in these beautiful, evocative images from the Country Life archives which will lift your spirits.
As autumn arrives we always realise how much we love this time of year. The sadness of saying goodbye to summer is instantly alleviated by the rich colours of the woodland and welcome smells of woodsmoke and moss.
It’s also the sporting season for those who enjoy country pursuits, and the best time of year to bottle hedgerow wines and liqueurs.
Ready for battle: just before dawn, a fallow deer prepares to ward off other suitors. Britain’s red and sika deer also rut in the autumn
Double the delight: Autumn’s fire reflected in Grasmere in the Lake District
Listen out for the tawny owl’s calls, which are most frequent in the autumn as they establish their territories
Sycamore seeds wheel through the air
The arrival of blackthorn sloes reminds us it’s time to start making the eponymous gin
A hazel dormouse builds up its fat reserves for hibernation
A magnificent stand of beech trees
Conkers await picking up and schoolboy stringing
Our hedges are filled with fluffy white old man’s beard; the seedheads of Clematis vitalba, ready to be dispersed in the breeze
October’s full moon – sometimes known as the Hunter’s Moon – arrives on October 5
11 of the best places in Britain to enjoy Autumn colour
A riot of autumnal splendour has broken out across the country.
Top five autumn recipes
Read our top five most popular autumn recipes using everything from elderberries to mushrooms in our autumn food recipe round
How to make Tarte Tatin and ‘Apple Hat’ pudding this autumn
Simon Hopkinson suggests two sumptuous apple puddings for autumn: tarte tartin and 'apple hat'.
10 tips on how to forage this autumn
Foraging is more popular then ever – Hetty Chidwick squares up to the squirrels and shares some top tips for
