Autumn colours are still yet to peak in the UK, new breathtaking drone footage from Forestry England has found.
While green leaves usually fade to burnt yellow in early September, imagery taken from the National Arboretum, Westonbirt, is proof that some landscapes are still experiencing a spectacular display of dazzling autumn hues.
From glorious golds to rich reds, it's thought the prolonged display of colour is due to our warming climate and changing rainfall patterns. Heavy storms can cause the leaves to fall off before they fully develop, but the dry spell has meant some trees are only just reaching their full potential.
Over in the New Forest, colours are still yet to peak. According to Esta Mion, Marketing and Communications Manager at Forestry England's New Forest, oak trees are only just beginning to glow with gold. Meanwhile, autumn colours have blossomed late at at Delamere Forest in Cheshire, with beech and sweet chestnut trees looking spectacular.
'The conditions that make for a spectacular and longer autumn are a moist growing season followed by a dry autumn with warm, sunny days and cool nights,' says Mark Ballard, Curator at Westonbirt Arboretum.
'The rain and sun that we experienced throughout spring and summer means that the trees were able to produce the sugars which create the colours in their leaves for a spectacular autumn display.
'The length of display relies heavily on the weather throughout autumn. Although this autumn has been quite dull, it has been very mild which means the leaves have had time for the build-up of chlorophyll to entirely fade and their dormant pigments to fully take over.'
Make sure to catch the autumn displays whilst you can!
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.