Autumnal renewal
I have enjoyed many thrilling wildlife encounters but I’ve yet to see a salmon leap up a waterfall or weir as it returns upriver to spawn. Autumn is the key time, when rising river levels spur these great fish into action. So I was very taken with Sheila Sim’s idea of following the salmon run along the banks of a river – by bike. In her case, it’s the River Tay in Scotland and it makes for a refreshing tale of discovery. Did Sheila see a leaping salmon? Read to the end to find out.
Autumn is a time when we notice our woodlands, as deciduous trees adopt their entrancing seasonal colours. So it’s a good time to assess the state of our woods and the role they play in boosting wildlife, tackling climate change and offering us mindful places to explore. We don’t have enough in the UK – a mere 13% of our landmass is woodland. But how to tackle the deficit? Natural regeneration or planting schemes? Richard Baynes addresses this fascinating subject. Our October issue went to print a couple of days before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died, so we were unable to publish anything in that issue to mark the occasion. This month, John Craven reflects on the life of the late Queen and looks to the future of the monarchy and countryside in the hands of His Majesty King Charles III. Also, read our Platinum Jubilee tributes to the late Queen at countryfile.com – including the Jubilee woodland planted in her honour.
Fergus Collins, editor@countryfile.com
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THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS
Sheila Sim
“The Tay here is quiet, dark, peaty; it’s easy to imagine the silvery fish resting in its inky pool while it gathers its strength to continue upstream.”
Oz Clarke
“In this challenging world… there is at least one fragile but glittering silver lining: the vineyards, wineries and wine of England and Wales.”
Richard Baynes
“To boost forestry, 14,000 hectares of new woodland were planted in the UK in 2021–22 alone. But some say we’re not planting enough.”