Tuesday 15th September 2026 - Autumnal Photos

I thought I would devote today’s blog to a selection of the photos I’ve taken, as we head into the months of autumn.

During the season of autumn, there are usually plenty of fruits, growing in the hedgerows.  Some can be picked and preserved, all provide food for wildlife.  Pictured above are rose hips.  Not so popular these days but going back to World War II, when citrus fruits were not always available, rose hip syrup was considered as a particularly valuable source of Vitamin C for children.

One hedgerow fruit which is growing in abundance this year are sloes.  Given the lack of rain, this summer, it’s quite surprising to see so many plump fruits on the blackthorns. We’ve picked some, which are now steeping in gin and will provide a welcome ‘tipple’ in the depths of winter.  It’s a shame the fruits never sweeten and therefore there are very few recipes incorporating them.  I have one for sloe and apple jelly, which I made some years ago.

Fungi can be found at most times of the year but autumn is probably the best season to see them.  General dampness and morning dews are perfect, encouraging them to erupt through soil, grass and leaf litter.  Such a diverse organism, I find it impossible to positively identify the ones we find.  The fungi in the photo above, is growing in the village, where a large tree once stood.

Over the years, we’ve seen some stunning sunrises here in Overstrand but not today.  Dark heavy clouds, which we thought may shed some rain but didn’t, provided a dramatic scene as we set off on our morning walk.  The photo doesn’t fully show the silver effect on the sea, as rays from the sun penetrated through a gap in the clouds.  We don’t always need fiery reds and zingy oranges to create a dramatic start to the day.