Autumn is officially here but it seemed to begin early with August mainly cool and soggy.

The robin's rather wistful territorial song may reflect our sombre moods but I always try to be positive and savour every delight the season has to offer.

Floristically speaking, there may be few wild flowers left but common heather, or ling, is magnificent this year and of course Michaelmas daisies brighten gardens and waysides attracting bees, hoverflies and late butterflies.

Then there is the wonderful array of autumn tints as each tree species sheds leaves.

Horse chestnuts have for the past decade suffered from leaf-miner moth which creates early havoc with the leaves but conkers are of good size again and the trees appear to shrug off the problem at least in the short term.

There is an excellent crop of acorns although some oaks are afflicted with deforming knopper galls. There is also a good supply of sloes and rose hips.

Misty moisty mornings; dew-spangled garden spider's webs and a myriad gossamer silken lines glistening among sunlit grasses; the return of the gulls; birds now resplendent in fresh plumage; hooting tawny owls searching for territories; goldfinches on the teasels; a selection of fabulous fungi and a synchronicity of swirling starlings preparing to roost can all lift our spirits.

Then as September progresses deer approach the rutting season.

The far-reaching belching bellows of red stags(pictured) and coughing burps of fallow bucks will soon echo across Richmond and Bushy parks as they round up their harems.

There is so much to enjoy before winter sets in and doubtless readers will have their own special autumnal pleasures.