Autumn is a beautiful season, full of hot chocolates, crunchy leaves and crisp mornings... But when exactly does it begin this year?

Some people think autumn commences when the clocks go back (Sunday October 25 this year), marking the end to British Summer Time. Others think it's simply when the leaves go brown.

The Woodland Trust is looking for signs of autumn's arrival from people across the capital as it tracks the season on its Nature's Calendar survey.

Early indications suggest this year's autumn season may arrive a little later than average, and the charity is appealing for more records on what is the longest running survey of seasonal change in the UK.

The Woodland Trust records evidence of autumn's arrival from sightings of leaf colouring, ripening of seasonal fruits like blackberries, and the departure of migratory birds like swifts and swallows.

Woodland Trust citizen science manager, Dr Kate Lewthwaite, said: "Nature's Calendar has records dating back to the 18th century but we receive far less information about autumn than spring so we'd really like to see more people take part and tell us what they see this year across the capital."

Anyone can take part in the Nature's Calendar survey and record signs of autumn; this could be in the back garden, a local park or the nearest wood.

By recording dates of seasonal activity the trust is able to see how climate change is affecting plants, trees and wildlife from one year to the next.

Since Nature's Calendar began in the year 2000, the trust has already compiled evidence that Autumn fruiting has advanced by nearly three weeks on average!

So go on, get outside to your nearest green spot and track autumn's arrival!

To find out more about Nature's Calendar, visit The Woodland Trust website.

Send us your autumnal photos by emailing

or tweeting @getwestlondon.