Now that the clocks have changed, it’s clear that we are heading through autumn and into winter. With the nights drawing in, a lot of people comment that they find this time of year difficult. I admit it’s easy to feel like hibernating, but maybe it’s a sign that we need to adapt to the special things that winter brings rather than wishing it away.
It’s a time of year when I am more inclined to curl up with a book, watch films and get out the board games or a jigsaw. While slightly more effort is needed to wrap up and step outdoors, the autumn colours are beautifully rich and warming and I will never grow out of crunching my way through piles of leaves.
There is a lot on in Letchworth, with Broadway Gallery and Broadway Cinema both offering a warm welcome and programme of events, including our seasonal Christmas treats.
Nature is well adapted to this time of year. Birds have found their winter shelter and feeding grounds, maybe helped by the water and seeds we leave in our gardens. Mammals are growing thicker coats and hedgehogs have found somewhere cosy to rest, so be careful not to disturb them. Our lovely black squirrels are digging around disturbing our flower beds to hide tasty food. Trees and perennial plants are drawing in their energy and resting, while seeds, eggs and pupae are protected and quietly waiting for spring.
Both at work and in my personal life I feel autumn is a time for reflection: what has gone well, what would I change, how can I build on this and make next year exciting? Then the planning begins and this is where some help is needed.
Over that past few months I have been working with our Communications Team to build a Living Well with Nature area on Discover Letchworth and it is now ready to launch. On the first page you will be able to explore the link between nature and wellbeing. There are then three main areas. I am working to add information on the first two; wellbeing through nature activities and places in Letchworth to visit. The third area needs your help!
We would love to start recording what people in Letchworth are doing to protect nature, and to know what nature has been seen. This citizens science area is open to everyone - we don’t mind if you tell us a flower is pretty and yellow or if you give a scientific name, it will all help us to learn and celebrate local nature. Information should be easy to submit, but if you have any problems or would like to send a photo, please email response@letchworth.com
Earlier in the year I wrote a management plan and launched a consultation on the future of Hillbrow Grassland, a special area on the west side of the town where we have a small population of the nationally threatened Small Blue Butterly. The consultation was very helpful, and it was good to see the enthusiasm for protecting and enhancing nature at this site. I have now written a response to the questions raised which can be read by visiting the places to visit area of Living Well with Nature here.
So having come to the end of this article, I find myself enthusiastic about autumn and motivated to develop plans over winter so that more nature and wellbeing news can be shared during 2026.