Some of our places we care for in the South East of England will be opening with guided tours, so you’ll need to pre-book before your visit. These tours will be led by expert volunteers and will show the places in a new light. You may also need to book in advance at some other larger places, where visitor numbers need to be carefully managed for practical reasons.
In autumn our gardens are still full of colour and there’s lots to see. Kitchen gardens are brimming with seasonal produce. Dusky apples, pears and plums fill the orchards, and garden borders have late flowering delights. At The Vyne, the liquidamber and swamp cypress trees around the lake are gradually turning crimson and purple. The riverside walk at Mottisfont is beneath a soft buttery tree canopy.
Enjoy all the drama that autumn has to offer, at our Hampshire places. Kick off with colourful harvest fun and an eco time-travelling sound adventure. As temperatures drop and colours intensify, October trails introduce kids to the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of autumn. Plus there’s plenty of leaf-crunching and conker-hunting on offer too.
Bats can get bad press, often unfairly. Our wildlife adviser Jo Hodgkins is batty about them and we love them too. Here she busts a few myths about these fascinating little mammals. Find out about bats' super senses, their intriguing social habits, and where you can spot them in the South East.
From the UK's largest horse-chestnut tree at Hughenden in Buckinghamshire, to adventures among red squirrels on the Mottistone Estate, on the Isle of Wight, autumn wouldn't be complete without a traditional game of conkers for your little ones.
In Hampshire, there are many places where you can experience the soft beauty of the autumn landscape. We look after acres of ancient woodland at The Vyne, Mottisfont and Hinton Ampner. Follow one of our downloadable trails through these natural ‘cathedrals’, under rich gold and russet canopies.
An autumn woodland glowing with colour and rich with the smell of damp earth is a wonderful place to be. National Trust Ranger Chloe Bradbrooke suggests six mini wonders of nature to look out for on an autumn woodland walk.
We manage Mottisfont's woodlands to make them as wildlife-rich as possible. Most of this conservation work is carried out by our rangers in autumn and winter. And it's not just the woodland, but the edges, open spaces and network of ‘rides’ too - the grassy paths you’ll find in and around woods.
In celebration of autumn you’ll find harvest displays around Hinton’s gardens and in the house. We’ll be introducing you to all the delicious produce in our walled kitchen garden too, destined for the café. Look out for giant onions and pumpkins, apples and even late raspberries, watched over by Hinton’s scarecrow and his dog. There are flowers everywhere too, plus Apple Day events on 30 & 31 Oct.
This autumn, Mottisfont’s kitchen garden is once again showcasing its gourd walk. By October, you can walk through the long pergolas beneath weird and wonderful hanging gourds in greens, yellows and oranges. Elsewhere, raised beds are full of produce, destined for the café; everything you see is culinary or medicinal. It’s a lovely space to sit and soak up the autumn sunshine.
Area Ranger Cat Hadler looks after the countryside of South West Hampshire, and loves to forage for wild ingredients. Every autumn, she'll be found in Mottisfont's Millenium Orchard and the surrounding woodlands gathering ripe apples and crab apples to make cider. Here's her step-by-step guide to creating your own.
Discover grand mansions and servants' quarters, an atmospheric Victorian fort and a very special chapel with murals by Stanley Spencer. Just some of our places in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
From intimate gardens in romantic settings to ancient parklands filled with magnificent trees, you'll find a variety of beautiful landscapes to enjoy at our places in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
There's woodland, wetland, farmland and more for you to enjoy in Hampshire, including the commons of the New Forest. Plus the dramatic coastline of the Isle of Wight. So come out and play.
Want to get more out of your plants, garden or growing space during autumn? Our gardening experts share their tips on how to prepare your garden for colder weather and keep plants happy and thriving.
We love food and we've got some great recipes to prove it. Fill your days will delicious home-cooked meals, savoury snacks, simple bakes and indulgent desserts. There are lots of recipes for you to try and share with loved ones, including some vegan and family-friendly recipes too.
Delve into our garden shed of fun activities for the kids throughout the seasons. Explore things to do, games to play and recipes to bake. There's lots to be done outdoors in nature or indoors on a rainy day
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