Westonbirt Arboretum: THE south west destination for leaf peeping
Have you cleaned your camera lens and donned your best autumnal outfit for a spot of leaf peeping at the arboretum yet?
Yes? Tag the Friends of Westonbirt in your pictures please
No? What are you waiting for? Now’s the perfect time for peeping.
What is leaf peeping?
It’s not what you think! Leaf peeping does not involve an elaborate game of hide and seek where you try desperately to blend into the foliage. In fact, it is an informal term that originated in the United States and Canada to describe forays into nature in pursuit of the best “fall” (autumn) foliage.
Designed to capture the very best of autumnal leaf changes, leaf peeping has been hailed for its seasonal beauty, mesmerising photography, mental health benefits, and the opportunity to ground yourself in the last of the autumn sunshine. A group gathering of foliage seekers is unfortunately dubbed a “peepshow”, but we prefer to refer to them as a foliage flock, which is much more appropriate for British English!
Where to go leaf peeping in Gloucestershire?
Why Westonbirt Arboretum is the best location for leaf peeping
Autumn is known for its deciduous leaf drop, where a tree reduces and stops its production of green chlorophyll. This process leaves room for other chemical colours to come to the fore, such as flavonoids (giving a yellow colour), carotenoids (responsible for yellow, orange and red hues), and anthocyanins (deep reds). These chemicals are always there, but in spring and summer are masked by the much-stronger chlorophyll green.
Many native British trees undergo this change as they lose their leaves, giving way to the much-loved colours, but what amplifies the impact of Westonbirt Arboretum’s display are many of the stand-out species including acers/maples, and Katsura for example which put on particularly impressive displays with exceptionally incredible colours. The abundance of trees putting on their autumnal best is what makes Westonbirt Arboretum the go-to destination for leaf peeping.
Here’s a selection of autumn 2024 photos from Westonbirt Arboretum:
