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About Autumn

Autumn starts in September, when Jock o' Bennachie notices that daylight gets shorter, and it gets colder and wetter.

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Autumn Introduction

Autumn starts in September, when Jock o' Bennachie notices that daylight gets shorter, and it gets colder and wetter. Autumn is when the earth begins to tilt away from the sun, leading to cooler temperatures and changes in our environment.

  • Plants stop producing fruit and most crops are ready to harvest.
  • Many animals start to grow thicker coats to protect them from winter.
  • Many animals start to store food in nests and dens or in their body as fat.
  • Tree leaves start to change colour and wilt (shrivel up).
  • Some animals get ready to hibernate.
YouTube Video: Autumn in the UK - BBC Teach

Autumn Leaves

Jock loves watching the leaves on the deciduous trees like birch, sycamore, beech and oak changing colour before falling off. They turn beautiful shades of red, orange, yellow and brown because they lose chlorophyll. That’s the chemical which lets plants make food from sunlight and keeps leaves green in spring and summer.

Find out more about why leaves fall off trees in autumn by reading the BBC bitesize - Why do leaves fall off trees? article.

Nature is a great recycler and all the leaves that fall on the ground are decomposed by a vast army of nearly invisible organisms that live in the soil such as bacteria, fungi, mites, earthworms, insects, and small animals that will feed on the leaf litter.

Many trees are also producing seeds and nuts in autumn. More about this further on.

Thanks to the evergreen trees like Scots pine and holly, Jock still sees loads of greenery on Bennachie all year round.

As Jock puts on his big old jacket partly made from feathers, dried moss and straw, his furry and feathered friends are also getting ready for the colder weather. Some grow thick fur to keep the cold out, e.g. the red squirrels grow thicker coats and bushy tails plus ear tufts, and are busy burying nuts to keep them going in the cold days ahead.

Bennachie
Photograph of Bennachie
BBCsize - Why do leaves fall off trees?
Photograph credit, Andy Wilson

Busy Autumn Animals

Some animals like Red deer stags (seen on the west side of Bennachie) are rutting. Watch the YouTube video Scotland's Big 5 - Red Deer to learn more.

 

Bats are busy eating loads to add weight, ready to go into a deep sleep called hibernation over winter.

Frogs and toads start to get ready to hibernate in the mud at the bottom of ponds, or carefully concealed in logs and tucked under leaf litter. Some toads even bury themselves to hibernate… perhaps you could make a frog and toad abode at home, here’s how RSPB - Make A Frog and Toad Abode.

Jock says goodbye to some of his summer bird visitors like swallows, swifts and ospreys who fly south to Africa to warmer weather. Even the meadow pipits head down from the summit of Bennachie to lower farmland and milder areas. But he also is excited to see his winter feathered friends arriving from the north. We’ll look at them later.

In autumn many of his plant pals are already making seeds ready for spring!

His minibeast chums are also getting ready for winter in autumn, some thinking about hibernating and others looking for warmer spots to shelter from the coming weather - more about them later on.

Scotland's Big 5 - Red Deer
RSPB - Make A Fog and Toad Abode

Jock's Autumn Jokes

Jock loves nothing better than a good laugh at a good joke. These are some of Jock’s favourite Autumn jokes just for you...

What did one autumn leaf say to another? - I’m falling for you!

What is the cutest season? - Awwwtumn!

What happens when winter arrives? - Autumn leaves!

Send Us Your Jokes

Jock o' Bennachie
Jock o' Bennachie

Also See

About Autumn

About Autumn

Autumn starts in September, when Jock 'o Bennachie notices that daylight gets shorter, and it gets colder and wetter.
Birds in Autumn

Birds in Autumn

Learn about migration and the many birds you may spot this Autumn.
Autumn Feeding Birds

Feeding Birds in Autumn

Give your birds a helping hand by feeding them, especially in autumn and winter.
Autumn Fruits, Berries and Seeds

Autumn Fruits

Learn more about the Autumn fruits and seeds and learn how to play "real" conkers!
Minibeasts

Autumn Minibeasts

Learn more about what Minibeasts do in the Autumn and how the handle the colder conditions.
Autumn Activities

Autumn Activities

Browse our collection of Autumn activities as well as one from across the web.

Also see our Summer Programme, Spring Programme, Winter Programme and Autumn Programme

If you have enjoyed these activities please share them with your friends and family.