Leader of Hatfield Town Council Cllr Larry Crofton urges residents to enjoy autumn weather in Hatfield.

As September gives way to the cooler climate that autumn brings, it signals a change in every corner of the natural world.

It brings changes to the landscape and paints the countryside with warm hues of red, gold and orange due to the trees shedding their leaves.

It creates picturesque scenes; scenes which can be enjoyed from our open green spaces and parks.

I feel that it is important to talk about the benefits this season has for the nature around us.

The fallen leaves enrich the soil with nutrients as well as give cover to root systems and plants that maybe wouldn’t survive the frosts of winter otherwise.

For the wildlife, autumn is the sign that preparations are needed for the colder winter months ahead. Squirrels will gather acorns and nuts that have fallen on the ground.

Birds, like robins and blackbirds, would have been feeding on the great abundance of berries that have been on offer before the colder months set in.

Woodland ecosystems are areas that thrive during autumn. So much is going on with the insects and microorganisms breaking down organic matter and further promoting healthy soil.

We all know those autumn smells when we walk through woodlands. Fungi growth is aided by all this activity and the change of the seasons.

Fungi such as the iconic Fly Agaric burst through the floor and show their beauty to the world. These are essential for the recycling of nutrients from dead organic matter.

Fungi takes death and creates that which is essential for forest life to thrive.

The cooler weather also encourages our spiky friends the hedgehogs and other small mammals to fatten up ready for hibernation for the winter.

Autumn isn’t just a seasonal change that affects the weather for humans, but it is a vital part of the balance and renewal that occurs in the natural world.

Wrap up, get your walking boots on and go and enjoy the sights and sounds of autumn in our town.