Join the Autumn spotting festival 2026

2 minute read time.
Join the Autumn spotting festival 2026

Today we are launching the 2026 Autumn spotting festival. It is a dedicated space to share seasonal joy. 

This discussion is a space to connect with others during the cooler and darker evenings through a shared appreciation for seasonal crafts, recipes, and hobbies. You are welcome to share:

  • Craft and creative projects Art
  • Self-care tips Green heart
  • Any pictures of the autumn season you may have taken Maple leaf
  • Hobbies you like to do during the autumn months Bicyclist
  • Recipes- it is the season for comfort food, after all. Stew
  • Poems and creative writing Pen fountain

Join the Autumn spotting 2026 discussion Maple leafFallen leafSunflower

To help you get involved in the discussion, here is a snapshot of what was posted in the 2025 Autumn spotting chat. Thank you to everyone who got involved. We hope you will enjoy the seasonal posts again this year.

BlueBlue posted a lovely picture of the different colours of some foliage.

Orange and burnt red foliage

Yellow, orange and red leaves on a tree

Winkers60 posted some lovely bright berries.

 Bright red berries on a green bush

Poem from CaraCara:

“September’s Gentle Flow

Leaves fall softly on the forest floor,
Whispering stories of what came before.
Light filters gently through ambered trees,
And dances along the path with ease.
The wind bends branches but does not break,
A lesson in resilience for your own sake.
Rivers hum under skies wide and clear,
Carrying whispers of hope for those who hear.
Every step you take, every breath you claim,
Adds to the quiet strength that cannot wane.
Even in change, even in the unseen,
There is beauty, patience, and moments between.
Step lightly, breathe fully, embrace the calm,
And let nature’s rhythm be your balm.
September moves onward, tender and bright,
Guiding your heart with gentle, steady light.

With love and solidarity,
CaraCara”

Pictures of fungi from Green woodpecker and Steph

 Yellow fungi growing on a tree

Red mushroom with white dots in a green field

Green woodpecker shared a picture of a fox outside their home

 Fox stood on green grass in front of a wall

WallyB shared some images of wildlife

 Image of a beige moth on a person's hand

Blackbird sitting on a branch of red berries

Blue butterfly on a green leaf

We have shared some ideas with you for how you can get involved. We look forward to seeing what seasonal delights you have to share in the Autumn spotting 2026 chat. 

Trixie26
  • Hi Steph, lovely photos. Isn't nature fantastic? I adore a "walk" in the countryside at this time of year. Of course I've just to go to the fields across the road or the fields and Carrigullion Lough (ASSI) behind me to look for mushrooms etc as I live in the countryside! 

    I have replied to Dylan who responded when I couldn't locate the post with the photos and mentioned that although I was slightly disappointed that I didn't see real evidence of Autumn at Castlewellan Lake yesterday, I have the excuse to return there in 3 or 4 weeks. Every cloud......etcSmile

    Tvman 

  • That's good news  please do come back and share your autumnal photos in a few weeks. 

    Did you find any mushrooms today? 

  • Hi Steph, I looked for mushrooms/fungi but there were none to be seen. My focus was probably searching for Autumn leaves so maybe that's why. I'll be going back there in a couple of weeks because I've been there before in Autumn and the difference was so amazing. 

    I planted 1,500 willow trees in the field opposite me before diagnosis of MDS and spinal stenosis but willow trees aren't spectacular before they drop their leaves in Autumn. Not like a horse chestnut tree or maple tree that have wonderful displays.

    Tvman x

  • Willow trees are wonderful and it's amazing that you planted so many!

    Well done  

  • Hi Steph, it's very easy to plant willow trees. All's needed is a willow tree that has a lot of small branches - up to about 1 metre long. A close neighbour has what used to be a living willow structure which they inherited when they moved in. Unfortunately they didn't know how to look after it and it ran wild. 

    After politely asking if I could take some shoots, I collected 93 small, metre long slips and the easiest way is to push them into soft ground to about 15 to 20 cm. 95%+ will root. As they grow taller, it's best to keep the trunks from sprouting side shoots until you can't reach any further. That enables the trunks to thicken 

    The primary objective is to harvest the thick trunks, cut them, dry them thoroughly and burn them in a wood burning boiler stove to heat the radiators in my house.

    It's a neverending harvest and if I cut one down, I plant a replacement or replacements for the future. 

    In 4 or 5 years I reached the grand total of 1,500 trees. How do I know that? Well, I planted them in groups of 100 slips.

    Tvman x