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FIELDS OF GOLD
An autumnal sun casts its golden light over the North Wessex Downs in Wiltshire on a tranquil October evening. This gently folding ancient landscape, underlain by chalk, has inspired artists and poets for centuries and this year marks its 50th anniversary as an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Celebrate by exploring the AONB’s ‘50 Things Not to Miss’ – from Watership Down to Silbury Hill.
CATTLE CROSSING
Free-roaming Highland cattle pause while crossing the single-track road that leads through Glen Lyon in Perthshire, described by Sir Walter Scott as the “longest, loneliest and loveliest glen in Scotland”. Curiously, Highland cattle were originally black, until a stray brown strain from Glen Lyon become dominant.
HOG HIBERNATION
A species in decline in the UK and listed as ‘vulnerable’, hedgehogs need to feed as much as possible this month, to top up their fat stores before hibernation starts in November. Give them a helping hand by leaving out some wet cat or dog food, and carefully check garden log or leaf piles for hogs before a clean-up or bonfire.
LILAC LIAR
One of our prettiest edible mushrooms, the amethyst deceiver (Laccaria amethystea) can be found in mixed woodland of beech and oak from June to November. Its deep purple/lilac gills, stem and cap can fade to pale brown as its gets older, so be sure not to confuse it with the similar-looking but poisonous lilac fibrecap.
MONTH IN THE COUNTRY
GOLDEN OLDIE The striking swirl of an ammonite fossil is highlighted by the rays of a rising sun at Monmouth Beach in Lyme Regis. Part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, this stretch is known as the ‘Ammonite Pavement’, due to the number of large fossilised marine molluscs embedded in the limestone ledge, recalling an era, 199 million years ago, when the sea level was higher.
Look to the heavens
Magical meteor showers
Few celestial events are more beautiful than a meteor shower, streams of cosmic debris that enter Earth’s atmosphere at such speeds they leave streaks of light in their wake. Here are six spectacular showers to look for this autumn and winter.
Star watch
Discover where the stars we spy in the night sky came from in Cosmic Hunters: Searching Space. Available on iPlayer
DRACONIDS PEAK
8–9 OCTOBER
In 1933 and 1946, Draconids produced some of the most active displays in the 20th century. In recent years, however, it has been a less vigorous meteor shower than most, with a variable rate per hour.
ORIONIDS PEAK
21 OCTOBER – 2 NOVEMBER
Thought to have come from the famous Halley’s Comet, these fast-moving meteors fall at a rate of 25 per hour. The Orionids sometimes produce bright fireballs.
TAURIDS PEAK
12–13 NOVEMBER
Slow-moving meteors but sometimes very bright, with an average rate of five per hour. This long-lasting shower occurs every year from late October to the end of November, peaking in mid-November. Watch for fireballs this year.
LEONIDS PEAK
17–18 NOVEMBER
Fast, bright meteors with fine trains, associated with Comet Tempel-Tuttle.
GEMINIDS PEAK
14–15 DECEMBER
Easier to spot than other showers on this list, this typically has a rate of 150 fast-travelling meteors per hour.
URSIDS PEAK
22–23 DECEMBER
This sparse shower produces five meteors at its peak. Associated with Comet 8P/Tuttle.
ID guide
Know your oaks
Autumn is a glorious time to enjoy our woodlands, as greens fade to yellow, red and brown. But one tree conjures a greater sense of majesty and legend than any other. With two native and several ornamental varieties, the oak is found across the UK. Here are six of the most familiar.
ENGLISH OR COMMON OAK,
QUERCUS ROBUR
A single tree can live for almost 1,000 years and support more biodiversity than any other British plant. If given space, the common oak has the capacity to grow as wide as it is tall, with weighty boughs and thick, almost scaly bark. The leaves have deep, rounded lobes and no stalk.
HOLM OAK,
QUERCUS ILEX
Native to much of the Mediterranean, the holm oak was introduced into Britain in the 16th century and is familiar in parks and gardens. The leaves are glossy, smooth-edged and evergreen, making them conspicuous in the winter. The holm oak is resistant to salt but not frost and thrives near the coast.
TURKEY OAK,
QUERCUS CERRIS
Introduced in the 18th century, the Turkey oak was native to the British Isles prior to the last Ice Age. It is relatively fast growing, up to 40 metres tall, with long, hardy and deeply cut leaves. The acorns are distinct in developing from hairy cups, while the tree’s bark is deep grey and often cracked.
SESSILE OAK,
QUERCUS SESSILIFLORA
Also native to Britain, the sessile or durmast oak grows to a similar height as the common oak and, although less common, is equally widespread. The leaves are less deeply lobed than the common and have short stalks, whereas the short, round acorns grow directly off the twigs.
CORK OAK,
QUERCUS SUBER
Another species introduced from southern Europe, the bark of the cork oak, as its name suggests, is used in commercial cork production. The evergreen leaves are similar in appearance to holly, with a shiny, veined upper surface and shallow ‘spiked’ edges. Most commonly found in south-west England.
NORTHERN RED OAK,
QUERCUS RUBRA
Native to the north-west United States, the northern red oak is now naturalised across much of Europe, including the British Isles. This fast-growing tree produces leaves that have pointed lobes and turn a deep reddish-brown in autumn, a quality that has led to their popularity within ornamental planting.
On the plot
Jobs for the garden with Rekha Mistry
Hey frost, you can’t scare me yet! Halloween isn’t until the end of the month. And I have plenty of tasks to accomplish before that. As cooler nights are drawing in, the last of the winter squash fruits are lifted, brought in and debris cleared. So as not to leave any brown soil patches that can wash away during wet winter, I have sown winter-friendly green manure, too.
Even after many years of following crop rotation, the plot’s edge furrows are still showing signs of sticky clay soil. I reach for the lime container in the shed and sprinkle it along the edges. The plot may have started to quieten down, but I look up and the vista is changing, too. The once-green tree canopy backdrop is going out with a bang!
This soft, subtle, colourful carnival glows in amber, brown, red and golden yellow. Like confetti, as the leaves fall, this is my last task of the month. Collect leaves to make leaf mould. Told you I wasn’t finished. BOO!
Rekha Mistry is a garden writer and recipe developer. Discover more kitchen-garden inspiration at rekhagardenkitchen.com
This month on the Plodcast
A Taste of the Countryside
This month, our award-winning nature and countryside podcast is heading towards the end of its current season, A Taste of the Countryside, which celebrates food and farming. Here are the latest episodes for you to enjoy.
Episode 9 A wonderful opportunity to walk and talk with Wilfred Emmanuel Jones, aka the Black Farmer (below), about his journey from immigrant to landowner and businessman.
Episode 10 Meet Totty Cruttenden, who spends most of the summer rehoming swarms of bees. Join her for a live rescue mission near the New Forest.
Episode 11 Can cattle save the planet? Filmmaker Peter Byck and the Eden Project’s Tim Smit explore the power of livestock to revive our land.
Episode 12 Relax in a naturally farmed vineyard in Kent. Terlingham Vineyard farms in harmony with nature to produce memorable white wines.
bbccountryfile.podlink.to/plodcast
OCTOBER EVENTS
BATTLES, BOOKS, BEASTS AND BIG TREES
Don’t miss this month’s exciting events, from Halloween trails to literary festivals
THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS, EAST SUSSEX
15–16 October
English Heritage’s Battle of Hastings re-enactment returns. Adult, £21 (member £7), child, £12.80 (member £4.50). Family tickets available. english-heritage.org.uk
HALLOWEEN AT BLENHEIM PALACE, OXFORDSHIRE
21–31 October
Explore an immersive, illuminated trail as you wander from one ghostly space to another. Adult, £17, child £12. Family tickets available. blenheimpalace.com
JURASSIC ENCOUNTER ASHTON COURT, BRISTOL
15–30 October
Enter an era when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, as giant robotic models of Tyrannasaurus Rex, Triceratops and Diplodocus, as well as lesser known species, hide in grassland and woodland.
WIGTOWN BOOK FESTIVAL, DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
23 September–2 October
Scotland’s national book town, Wigtown hosts the festival with over 250,000 books. A great chance to meet some of the country’s renowned writers. wigtownbookfestival.com
THE ENCHANTED FOREST, PITLOCHORY, PERTHSHIRE
29 September–30 October
Choreographic creation of dramatic light and sound performances. A night-time spectacular set in Perthshire’s Big Tree Country. pitlochry.org/events/enchanted-forest
A SENSE OF PLACE, NORTH ALLERTON, NORTH YORKSHIRE
3 September–26 November
Joe Cornish Galleries exhibits landscape-inspired black and white photography by Kate Somervell, Patrick Kaye, Paul Sanders and Susi Petherick.
Countryfile on TV
BBC One, 25 September and 2 October
On 25 September, Joe Crowley is in Brixham on the English Riviera, home to beautiful beaches, lovely coastal walks and one of the UK’s largest fishing fleets. Joe goes on an underwater safari and finds out how disco lights are being used to catch scallops. On 2 October, follow the battle for Britain’s best sheepdog in the annual, long-running and hotly contested competition, One Man and His Dog.
A taste of September
SQUASH, CHESTNUT AND PRETZEL GRATIN
Use a good flavoursome squash for this recipe. Steer clear of the carving pumpkins as these are usually tasteless and watery Pretzels may be a surprising addition here (use breadcrumbs if you prefer) but these salty snacks work wonders as a topping for the squash.
INGREDIENTS
• 250ml double cream
• 200ml full-fat milk
• 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely crushed
• 3 sprigs of fresh thyme, leaves picked
• 1 bay leaf, scrunched a little
• Nutmeg, a good pinch
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 800g squash, peeled and very thinly sliced
• 50g chestnuts, finely chopped
• 80g Parmesan, freshly and finely grated
• 30g pretzels, roughly crushed
METHOD
1. Bring the cream and milk just to the boil in a large pan along with the garlic, thyme, bay leaf, a good grinding of nutmeg, a good pinch of salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Add the squash, turn down the heat and simmer gently, stirring often, for about 10–12 minutes, until the squash is just tender and cooked through.
2. Heat the oven to 180ºC.
3. Add the chestnuts to the cream and squash mix and add half the Parmesan, stirring to combine.
4. Add the squash mix to a baking dish measuring approximately 25 x 20cm, and loosely cover with some foil.
5. Bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes, until the squash is soft. Add the pretzels and the remaining Parmesan and bake for a further 10–15 minutes, until bubbling and piping hot throughout.
6. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for at least five minutes before serving.
Claire Thomson is a chef and food writer. Discover more seasonal recipe ideas at 5oclockapron.com