The autumn colour is starting to kick in at Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest – and the rangers want to see us there. What’s On took a look round.

If the autumn colours aren’t enough to get you down to Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest this weekend, there’s also guided walks and a brass band to make the day go with a swing.

The pinetum’s Friends Day, on Sunday, September 30 coincides with the Forestry Commission’s Forest Discovery Day and Bedgebury is putting on events to encourage people to go along for some autumnal fresh air.

The day starts at 11.30am with a 45-minute guided walk around the pinetum, which boasts the Old Man of Kent, the tallest tree in Kent, as well as a peaceful lake. They may see wildlife from nuthatches and lizards, to weasels and rare butterflies.

A brass band will play from 12.30pm to mark the start of a volunteer weeding and clearing session. More guided walks take place during the afternoon.

Chris Reynolds, curator of the National Pinetum at Bedgebury, says the day is a good opportunity to find out more about the volunteer organisation, the Friends of Bedgebury, who help with everything from rhododendron and scrub clearance to supporting school visits.

Visitors can also see the first of the autumn colours, which curators and rangers watch with interest each year, dubbing the pastime “leaf-peeping”.

Chris says: “Autumn’s foliage displays are certainly affected by the weather. The intensity and longevity of colour varies from one year to the next.

“Luckily, different conditions suit different plants and each year new, and sometimes surprising, trees will provide the star turn. This year we could see prolonged autumn colour well into November due to the mild, damp weather conditions.

“Cool, damp years can also bring out stronger tones in some species. For instance, look out for the sweet-smelling katsura’s rich pink hue. Native trees such as the beech may also provide strong golden tones this season.

“Predicting when autumn will fall and what type of colour the leaves will turn is always an entertaining task. Nature is a mysterious thing. Even with increased scientific and plant knowledge, we can get it wrong. Weather can also intervene, with a harsh storm or severe frost putting the end to many a great autumn show.”

How well do you know trees?

In Saxon times pigs were grazed in forests to eat nuts from beech trees.

In folklore the graceful birch is known as “the lady of the woods” due to its elegant shape.

The yew tree can kill as many parts of it are poisonous to us, as well as to cows and horses. But it also contains taxol, a medicine that can be used to fight cancer. The oldest yew in the UK is thought to be more than 3,000 years.

The douglas fir is named after David Douglas, the great 19th century plant hunter who introduced the tree to Scotland in the 1820s.

Pines have waxy needles not leaves. These help them to hold on to water more easily and stay evergreen.

The oak provides a homes for more woodland animals and plants than any other tree in the country. Source: Forestry Commission.

Friends Day at Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest is from 11.30am on Sunday, September 30 and the last guided walk leaves the visitor centre at 3pm. Admission is £8.50 per car. For more information seewww.bedgebury-pinetum.org.uk

Forestry Commission England has named Bedgebury Pinetum among its top 10 places to visit this autumn. This year, members of the public can also follow how quickly woodlands are changing colour and help keep this up to date. Using the Forestry Commission’s interactive online autumn colour map it’s easy to find the best colour near you, as each wood is rated from green to golden. To find out more go towww.forestry.gov.uk/autumn