A leaf just died, I watched it fall
Flutter to the ground to sprawl
Now faded, etched with insect scar
Pale, faded ghost of once proud star
Yet high on the autumnal bough
New life is there, though dormant now
Dark tight-furled buds, each tiny thing
Will clothe the trees in green next spring

Trees seem reluctant to shed their leaves this autumn, possibly because the weather in September was sunny and mild with light winds. In fact this seems to be an increasing trend over successive autumns so perhaps climate change is one of the causes.
As leaves rustle down in increasing numbers it amazes me just how many leaves each tree is clothed in. Many billions in fact.
For the autumn has a rather magical and beautiful quality about it with misty moisty mornings, dew-laden spider webs, and kicking piled up leaves along the street- a childish pastime perhaps, but I admit to doing it anyway.
Leaves in many shades from red, russet and yellow, a kaleidoscope of colour, many etched with insect scars.
Winter migrant birds including redwings and fieldfares are winging their way in the spend the winter and feed on a variety of berry-laden bushes such a s holly, hawthorn and pyracantha.
As their mating season approaches, foxes will soon begin barking at night with the wow, wow, wow call of the dogs searching for a vixen who replies with her blood-curdling scream - quite a scary sound in the middle of the night.
Conkers litter the ground under horse chestnut trees and I wonder if schoolchildren still indulge in conker fights. I think they’re banned now because the poor little children had their knuckles banged.