October: A Monthly Muse

Nature puts on a show in October - the trees start to turn, hedgerows are heavy with berries and the air has that first crisp edge. It's a month of feasting and farewells, with wildlife fattening up for winter, summer visitors leaving and new arrivals from the north. Folklore is also at its peak, as the festival of Samhain and the changing of the seasons bring out stories of fairy rings, spirits and the devil.

Things to look out for this month:

Autumn colour: Beech, maple and oak trees reach their glowing peak in the latter half of the month, especially noticeable after a run of cold, bright nights.

Fungi: Spot fly agaric (the fairytale red toadstool) and other mushrooms popping up in woods and on lawns, and keep an eye out for fairy rings. Look and photograph, but only forage if you're absolutely certain of your mushroom ID skills!

The red deer rut: Stags bellow and clash at dawn and dusk in places like Richmond Park, the New Forest and the Highlands. Watch only from a respectful - and safe - distance.

New arrivals: Grey seal pups are born on British beaches from Lincolnshire to Pembrokeshire, while redwings, fieldfares and geese arrive for their winter stay.