National Trust reveals autumn colour hot spots in Kent

Beautiful autumn!

The National Trust has revealed some of the best places to see the fiery hues of autumn in its gardens and parklands in Kent.

Autumn colours are expected to appear from mid-October with red, gold and orange shades covering the landscape until late November. So whether you aare admiring the variety of trees and plants, building up an appetite for some seasonal tasty treats or enjoying a walk through the crisp leaves, there are plenty of reasons to explore National Trust sites this autumn.

To help you decide where to visit, the National Trust has come up with its top autumn colour hotspots, with Emmetts Garden and Scotney Castle topping the poll as the must visit spots for those wanting to revel in Kent’s autumn shades.

Emmetts Garden is a must visit for autumn lovers. The garden is packed with a variety of exotic trees and large shrubs, surrounded by acres of wild native woodland. The south garden in particular turns vibrant shades of reds, pinks and oranges – from the bright scarlet foliage of the winged spindle tree to the golden leaves of the Japanese maples. Meanwhile the rock garden is packed with 40 different species of alpine plants interspersed with heathery banks, autumn bulbs, winding paths and a lily pond. Head gardener Simon Walker commented, ‘My top autumnal trees to look out for are the Katsura ‘Toffee trees’. There aren’t many of this size around and they fill the air with the sweet smell of toffee.’

Meanwhile the slopes surrounding the ruined medieval castle at Scotney Castle burst into autumn brightness, framing this picturesque landscape in sunshine shades of red, gold and bronze. Many of the hues are doubled in the moat’s reflections, resulting in dramatic displays above and below. Senior gardener Richard Huggett sayed, ‘Look out for the ambers of the Tulip Trees (Liriodendron tulipifera) and the yellow spindle fruited Celastrus orbiculatus over the doorway into the bowling green lawn. The 100 year old Japanese Maples below the Bastion have wonderful purple leaves too.’ On the wider estate, don’t miss the autumn view of the Weald from claypits field, near the wilderness camp.

Share your pictures of autumn colour with the National Trust on:

- Twitter @southeasnt

- Facebook at www.facebook.com/NationalTrustLondonandSouthEast

- Instagram by sending your pictures to southeastnt

- #autumnglow and we’ll share our favourites with our followers

One of our favourites is Knowle Park in Sevenoaks – splendid when the leaves are turning red.

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