September signals a turning point in woodlands as we leave the last days of summer behind us and look ahead to autumn. There’s a cooler breeze stirring in the forest, leaves begin to golden, berries start to ripen, and the birds and wildlife start to stock up for the season ahead.

In the Woods this Month

Bird Spotting: Foragers of the Forest

As nuts and berries ripen across the hedgerows and woodlands it becomes a perfect time to spot foraging birds. It’s a common sight to see blackbirds settled in a hawthorn tree enjoying the abundance of bright, ruby red berries on offer.

But if you wander a little deeper into the woods you may also be lucky enough to spot a jay. Usually a shy bird, jays busy themselves during autumn collecting acorns and stowing them away for winter. In fact, they have a slight reputation for being somewhat of a natural forester, as the acorns that were buried but forgotten have the chance to grow into new oak saplings.

Nuthatches are another woodland bird that can be found stowing away their foraged finds for the winter ahead. Autumn is a great time to spot them in the canopies or scuttling up and down trees in search of food.

Enchanting Elder: Folklore & Foraging

Elder is a tree which comes to life this time of year with rich dark fruits making it easy to spot and forage from. But as well as an abundance of berries it also offers a whole host of superstition…

“It was thought that if you burned elder wood you would see the Devil, but if you planted elder by your house it would keep the Devil away.”  Woodland Trust

There’s an old tradition of keeping elder close to the home to protect those who live there. An elder tree growing by the house was thought to bring good luck to those inside and ward away witches, illness and evil things. Hanging a branch of elder above a doorway was thought to also have the same protective effect.

But a few words of warning… cutting down or burning elder could bring terrible bad luck, while sleeping beneath this tree may well have you spirited away by fairies never to be seen again!

Elder is a personal favourite of mine and a tree that I’ll be foraging a few berries from when I come across them in the woods this month. Being careful not to take a nap while doing so!

A Little Nature Connection

A book to read: The Witches Forest by Sandra Lawrence

A perfect book to dip into over the autumn season, especially if you’re interested in folklore. This beautifully illustrated book explores the traditions, stories and superstitions connected with forests and trees from around the world.

‘Witches forest features over 50 of the worlds most majestic and mystical trees. From birch broomsticks and the sacred olive to alder doorways and the Tree of Life, this captivating study of woodland delves into the mythical uses and magical history of nature’s most noble species.’ The Witches Forest by Sandra Lawrence

In the Studio this Month

Painting September's Forest Finds

I’m currently working on painting a few of the seasonal finds discovered in woodlands this month as part of my Forest Finds collection.

For September, the paintings will feature acorns, early autumn berries and the mushrooms I’ve been finding in the woods. There’s also a new bird that I’m painting, the lovely Tree Creeper, which I hope will also be developed into a larger artwork a little later. I can’t wait to share this one with you!

If you’re a studio email subscriber, keep an eye on your inbox, as the paintings will be released a little later this month.

About the Forest Finds collection

Each month I release a collection of Forest Finds, a small selection of original paintings of the seasonal finds discovered in woodlands during that month.

The aim is to make these monthly painting releases affordable for those wishing to collect an original piece while also being a wonderful way to explore the changing seasons throughout the year!

 

Two New Arrivals: Wild Bramble and Wild Strawberry

You may recognise these paintings from my recent summer art collection. Well, I'm so happy to share Wild Strawberry and Wild Bramble are now available as art prints!

Both painted with the late summer berries and springtime flowers of these well-loved woodland plants.

They are currently available to preorder and art prints will be on the way to their new homes by 10^th September.

Art Print of the Month

Nuthatches

This month I’d love to highlight the Nuthatch art print. This artwork, originally painted in gouache, features three busy nuthatches in an early autumn woodland nestled within hazel, hawthorn and golden birch leaves.