Bedgebury Country Park – Embrace autumnal highlights this year
Bedgebury Country Park – an awesome place to visit this Autumn!
Bedgebury Country Park is such a special place, no matter what time of the year you visit but it really comes into its own in Autumn. As well as a plethora of playgrounds and wonderful walks, there’s a fantastic cafe to check out and great facilities for all.
Just because some tree’s leaves are starting to change colour, and the nights are getting shorter from the autumn equinox on 22nd September there’s no reason to panic and go into full “winter is coming” mode. Vibrant colours and calming lakeside reflections go on and on during autumn at Bedgebury Country Park.
A kaleidoscope of colour
At the National Conifer Collection, Bedgebury Pinetum in Kent, the kaleidoscope of colour from a wide range of conifers and broadleaved trees can be embraced every day, so there’s no need to rush. A succession of startling cones in deep blues, greens, reds and pinks have been bursting onto the firs (Abies) and other conifers in the collection since late June. New stars will be taking centre stage right through autumn into the depths of winter. Look out for weekly highlights to include on your visit when you arrive.
Bedgebury Country Park is open until sunset, 8pm until the end of September and it is one of our favourite woodland walks in Kent. Make the most of a late afternoon visit by bringing a picnic or grab dinner at the Bedgebury cafe and venture out to enjoy sepia toned trees in the evening light. Sit and admire reflections of the changing colours on one of the many lakes along Dallimore Valley.
What other trees can be found at Bedgebury Country Park?
Some of Bedgebury’s maples (Acers) are already honey coloured and dotted around the collection you can spot spectacular purple and red maples Acer amoenum, Acer palmatum ‘Red Seedling’ accented by the dark green tones of the conifers surrounding them. Early autumn at the National Pinetum brings the gorgeous scent from the katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) and the vibrant yellow leaves on the ancient maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba).
During the autumnal display, the sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) leaves turn individually giving an autumn palette on one tree! Don’t forget to look up whilst you wander, some trees change from the top down, others have cones circling their crowns or dropping down off higher branches like Christmas decorations.
Let’s keep talking about trees!
As autumn progresses the needles of golden larch (Pseudolarix amabilis) across Bedgebury Country Park will start to bring more striking yellows. However, trees of the same species sometimes turn at different times depending on where they are in the landscape. Environmental differences will mean that one tree is slower or quicker than the rest, it’s all about the right tree in the right place.
One place not to miss later in autumn is Marshal’s Lake. Take a seat and enjoy the views of the rich rusty swamp cypress (Taxodium distichum) around the water’s edge and get up close to the deep red bark of dawn redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides).
What else to expect at Bedgebury Country Park?
Despite some iconic views and vistas in the landscape, Bedgebury Country Park’s hills and lakes give plenty of different places to enjoy throughout the autumn season and the extensive range of conifer and broadleaf species deliver a wow factor every day. No need to rush just because the cooling temperatures and shortening daytime hours are upon us soon. There’s plenty of time and good reasons to plan a relaxing walk on any day this autumn.
