Things to do with the family this autumn

kids throwing leaves in forest
Credit: Johnny Hathaway

Autumn fun in the forest

With the nation's forests displaying an awesome array of colours, autumn is a beautiful time of year to visit the forest with your family. Hoping for some autumnal activities to do when you get here? Look no further - we have pulled together a list of the top things you can to do on your autumn walk.

Autumn playing
Forestry England Crown Copyright

1. Stomp through leaves 

In autumn, deciduous trees lose their leaves. Try gathering as many fallen leaves as you can, and have a competition to see who can build the tallest pile. Roll, jump and play in them!

Ever wondered why leaves change colour in autumn? Uncover the science behind the changing season and discover why leaves change colour. Have a go at finding as many different coloured leaves as you can!

2. Look for the weird and wonderful

Keep an eye out for different coloured fungi on your walk.

Fungi like the damp conditions among the fallen leaves, which create a wonderful rich earthy smell in the forest. Remember: they don’t all look like mushrooms and they don’t all grow on the ground – some grow on tree trunks or fallen branches. Fungi are an essential part of the forest lifecycle - they rot and recycle leaf litter, and provide food for small animals.

Did you know that trees and plants talk to each other through mushrooms? Most of a mushroom's body is made up of thin threads underground. It's recently been discovered that these threads link up, acting as a kind of underground internet, linking the roots of the trees and plants nearby and allowing them to share nutrients.  

Bedgebury Forest mushrooms and leaves autumn
Child holding pine cones

3. Become a cone collector

During the autumn, trees produce hundreds of seeds in the hope that a few will find the perfect place to land and grow into a tree. Each plant has a clever way of scattering their seeds. Some seeds and nuts will fall from the tree, some will explode from pods, some will blow away in the wind or float in water and others will be scattered by animals.

Look out for cones, nuts and seeds as you explore the forest. Have a competition to see who find the most!

4. Download free autumn activity sheets

Inspired by and featuring characters from Room on the Broom, inside these sheets you'll find autumn activities to bring sights, sounds and smells of the forest to life.

The pack includes sheets on:

  • crafting witchy autumn wands to capture the magic of forests.
  • exploring the spectrum of autumn colours and spotting them in the woods.
  • hunting for forest treasure on a Halloween scavenger hunt
  • creating forest art inspired by nature.
  • listening to the sounds of the season, and making an autumn sound map.
Autumn learning westonbirt
Child holding autumn seeds

5. Explore your senses

Autumn is a fantastic time to look, listen and reflect on the things all around you. Did you know that simply taking time to be mindful can be beneficial for children's health and wellbeing? 

Download our forest bathing activity sheet, find a quiet spot where your kids feel safe and relaxed and start practicing the art of forest bathing with our downloadable activity sheets.

6. Take photos as a family

When everything around us is more colourful and there's a lovely autumn light in the woods, it can be a great time to get some memorable snaps.

Try teaching your kids the basics of lighting and the "rule of thirds", or simply set up the timer and line up a seasonal family portrait!

Woman with camera taking photo in autumn
Children looking on forest floor scavenger hunt

7. Make hibernation homes 

Many animals start preparing for winter as the cooler weather descends. Creatures like toads and minibeasts look for places such as log piles and leaf litters to keep them warm and dry, and squirrels collect and hide nuts, so that they have food to eat during winter.

Can you look for somewhere you think would make a cosy, warm place for a toad or minibeast to hibernate?

Keep exploring

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01 September 2025

Looking for autumn walks near you? Use our handy guide to find somewhere for a colourful stroll this autumn.

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20 August 2024

Download the activity pack for a wonderfully colourful day out with the kids.

Sign up to bring forest learning to life with our free downloadable activities!

Muddy Hands Children

Sign up for Forestry England's family newsletter to be the first to receive news about the Gruffalo, free family events and other exciting forest activities.

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Blog
27 August 2024

It’s time to get the cosy jumpers out and kick your way through piles of fallen leaves. The nation's forests are a great place to feel those autumnal vibes!