After a relatively cool and damp Summer you may not feel ready for the arrival of Autumn, but the change of the seasons is being well-celebrated in the majestic beech woodland at Silent Valley

This Autumn take the time to visit the highest ancient Beech woodland in Britain at Gwent Wildlife Trust’s 50-hectare site nestled along the Ebbw Valley. Hugging the village of Cwm, you arrive at the entrance to the reserve where you will be greeted with a shimmering glimmer of the changing autumnal leaves that await you in the woods. On a crisp November day, you may be treated to the sight of a raven, red kite, or buzzard circling overhead as you pass through the welcoming meadow leading you into Silent Valley. Autumn days still provide a great showing of wildlife as squirrels and corvids are busy at work caching nuts for the Winter amidst the variety of fungi that are sprouting from the forest floor and fallen trunks and stumps of the wood’s older inhabitants.

Whilst Spring and Summer hold their delights in the host of wildflowers that call the valley home, the coming of Autumn unleashes a whole new palette of colours in the fiery yellows and oranges of the transforming woodland canopy. The lush greens of the reserve’s grasslands are still bright but fading to be replaced with the rusty auburns of the diminishing bracken fronds. Higher up the hillside, on the abandoned coal tips echoing the industrial past of the site, the late purples of the heather’s flowery show are complemented by the occasional bright yellow of sporadic gorse blooms. Fantastic views along the valley are your reward for making it to the dram road at the top of the reserve.

The real enchantment of Silent Valley is felt at this time of year as the pace of the Nant Merddog, which tumbles through the heart of the lower wet woodland, quickens with each deluge of rainfall, dominating the air with its growing, flowing song. As you walk along the banks of this tributary of the Afon Ebbw you can spy the outline of tree trunks partially blocking the course of the river, the resulting efforts of GWT’s nature recovery and nature-based solutions teams of staff and volunteers. These trunks form leaky dams designed to slow the flow during periods of high rainfall to prevent flooding further down the catchment as well as creating pools and gravel beds to benefit the River Limpets and Dippers that call this stream home.

Each type of weather unlocks another piece of the magic of this place, be it frost, mist, sideways rain, low dappled sunlight or the heavy dragon’s breath filling the base of the glyns. If you have never visited Silent Valley before, now is a great time to enjoy its beautiful landscape and rich wildlife offering. A crinkly carpet of beech nuts and leaf litter provide the perfect setting for adventures, with faces to find in the old trees and bridges over the Nant ideal for a game of Pooh Sticks!