Autumn's Sensory Delights: Connecting with Nature in Darker Months

On October 13th, 2025, a conservation charity and a television wildlife champion launched a campaign to encourage people to connect with nature during the autumn and winter months. The National Trust has unveiled its "Wild Senses" initiative, coinciding with the new BBC series "Hamza's Hidden Wild Isles" in which wildlife expert Hamza Yassin celebrates the UK's changing seasons.

The campaign comes as a recent poll suggests many people feel disconnected from nature as the days grow shorter and colder. While 90% of respondents said spending time in nature had a positive impact on their wellbeing, only 34% felt equally connected to the natural world across all seasons. Just 13% said they felt most connected in autumn, and a mere 3% in winter.

Yassin, however, believes autumn is a sensory feast, from the vibrant colors of changing leaves to the sounds of migrating birds and the scents of damp earth and foraged fungi. He encourages people to immerse themselves in the season, whether it's watching the red deer rut in Richmond Park or simply taking a moment to appreciate the urban wildlife on their doorstep.

The National Trust hopes its new "Naturehood" initiative, featuring curated walking routes in major cities, will help people rediscover the natural world around them, even in the darker months. As the director general Hilary McGrady says, "Nature isn't just in our nature reserves, it's in our gardens, streets, and local park."