In and around Buckinghamshire...

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.

Trees blazing with orange, red and gold, dappled golden paths, fluttering with falling leaves. It’s nature’s last hurrah before the long sleep of winter. Why not go out and enjoy the show in the Chilterns Countryside, Hughenden, Cliveden and Stowe.

Hugh Mothersole, our volunteer photographer and web editor for the Chilterns Countryside, gives us his top tips for taking pictures of autumn colour.

Nobody told our gardens that summer is over. They're still looking lovely in the gentle September light and in many places you can see (and taste) the kitchen garden produce being put to good use.

The Chilterns are well known for their rolling hills, wooded green valleys and chalk downland meadows. They're perfect for a ramble or a picnic. For walks with easily accessible paths in a carefully designed landscape dotted with elegant statues, monuments and temples, Stowe is your perfect destination.

We know our scones are rather popular. So we asked our teams to share some of their recipe ideas that you can try at home. From the traditional to the quirky, which will be your favourite scone?

Come and explore the immersive landscape, ornate monuments and tranquil lakes at Stowe, Buckinghamshire in our gardens podcast. Or try and episode about Cliveden, home to a world famous parterre, Japanese Garden and topiary-lined long walk. Around every corner you’ll find stories of mystery, decadence and the fame and misfortune of Britain’s political elite.

We care for one of the world's largest and most significant collections of art and heritage objects, but did you know that you can explore many of them online from the comfort of your home?

Spring is here, which means it’s time to remove the covers from the historic statuary in gardens and parkland at places like Hughenden, Waddesdon, Cliveden and Basildon Park. Once the covers are off, the hard work begins.

2015 saw the start of a new phase of restoration for the gardens at Stowe. The Landscape Programme is comprised of 54 tasks to reinstate many of the lost temples and monuments that once ‘dressed’ the gardens like pieces of a theatre set whilst undertaking maintenance on structures and lakes. The project has achieved many significant milestones and has been extended to complete some of the more complex tasks. Read more and keep up to date here.

Discover more about the work we're doing to prolong the life of our ancient trees. Throughout Europe ancient and veteran trees are now rare. At Ashridge Estate, Chrissy Hardy and the ranger team are fundraising to ‘halo-release’ 1000 veterans.