Welcome to our October issue. Nights are closing in and there’s a coolness in the air but who cares when our wonderful trees are giving the season such a coat of splendid colours? What’s your favourite? Russet, red, purple, pink, orange, ochre, gold, yellow, olive, brown?

This issue, we take a look at some of the best fun and activities outdoors, so you can enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of autumn – and listen out for the owls at Halloween! …

Marigold bright

Bring the uplifting orange and golden hues of autumn to your garden with Marigolds, which can bloom until the first hard frosts. They’re great in patio pots and containers too.

Gimme gimmee chips

Enjoy the warming comfort of some Peri Peri chips on a crisp day in the garden. This video from Riverside shows you how to cook them on a Weber BBQ rotisserie … get those rubs and dips out! View here.

Freedom of Wisley

If you aren’t a member of the RHS and would like to visit Wisley Gardens, you can enjoy its magnificence FREE OF CHARGE on 1st October! Details here.

Half-term’s a hoot!

Join an Autumn Colour Walk at Winkworth Arboretum on 23rd October.

Marvel at the Birds of Prey displays on 26 – 27 October at Wisley.

Conquer the conkers

Hurrah it’s conker season! The game of conkers became popular in the 19th century and there’s a World Conker Championships on 13th October in Northamptonshire. Did you know what else you can do with them? The Woodlands Trust says you can treat sprains and bruises – and deter moths. More here.

Pumpkin pickin’ at Halloween

If you haven’t grown your own pumpkin, you don’t have to go to a supermarket, you can pick you own from a farm. Crockford Bridge Farm in New Haw is one venue, Secretts in Milford is another. Secretts is holding a ‘Pumpkin Week’ between 26-31 October where you can enjoy a tractor ride out to the field to select your perfect specimen. There are some delicious pumpkin recipes on their website too!

Bushy Beverage

Cider producers are harvesting their fruit and, when Guildford man Nevin Stewart saw a bumper apple crop, he invented a new process for making clear apple juice and golden cider! If you fancy having a go, here’s a video on how to make it in your kitchen.

You can buy the ‘Juice and Strain’ kit and similar items via Vigo Press here.

Now is the perfect time to chat to us about how to give your garden a ‘makeover’. We’ve got an absolute windfall of ideas and would love to hear from you. Contact us here.

Until next time …