As the days grow shorter and the temperature dips, gardeners across the UK are turning their attention to protecting their plants and preparing their gardens for the cold months ahead. Winter might seem like a time for gardens to rest, but the work you do now can make all the difference to how well your plants bounce back in spring.

Work is now well under way on one of the most ambitious features of Kynren – The Storied Lands, as construction begins on the vast new Lost Feather Arena, a signature experience set to open in summer 2026. Shaped like an enormous bird nest, the 3,600 seat arena is already taking form, with the first structural elements now rising across the landscaped site.

Winter does not have to mean a dull, lifeless garden, as we all need colour and warmth to cheer us up in the shorter, darker days. With the right plants and a little care, you can enjoy a beautiful outdoor space full of colour and interest throughout the winter months.

Every autumn, spiders become more visible. They are present all year round but we really only begin to ‘see’ them and their webs from late summer into winter. Outside, masses of cobwebs will dazzle us with their dewy or frosty finish early in the morning. Inside the home, we might also be lucky to see male house spiders leaving the safety of their funnel webs as they go exploring for a mate!

A groundbreaking new vaccine - the first of its kind - can now be rolled out globally to help in the battle against a deadly virus that has devastated endangered elephant populations.

The hot summer weather followed by a warm and wet autumn has created the perfect conditions for fungi this autumn. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s second Fungi Festival includes foraging walks, ID walks, log inoculation workshops, talks, craft sessions, and storytelling. The Trust is also encouraging young people to join a mushroom march with DIY mushroom hats.

A major tree-planting project has transformed Fishwick Bottoms, Preston, with 11,800 native trees now creating a thriving riverside woodland. The initiative, delivered by Clitheroe based environmental charity Ribble Rivers Trust, will boost biodiversity, improve water quality, and help protect communities from flooding.

When you think of autumn gardens, do you imagine dull leaves and fading flowers? You couldn’t be more wrong. British Garden Centres has put together a guide to instant impact plants that can make a garden burst into vibrant life, delivering both colour and joy.

Retro flowers are making a stylish comeback in our gardens, as gardeners embrace classic blooms like hydrangeas, dahlias and sweet peas. This nostalgic trend blends vintage charm with sustainability, offering beautiful, pollinator friendly plants that connect us to traditional English garden heritage.

Butterfly experts have been sharing their excitement after a species from southern Europe was confirmed to have been seen in the UK for the first time. Two sightings of the Southern Small White have now been verified - one in Suffolk and one in County Durham. It comes after the UK recorded its warmest and sunniest-ever spring, which has prompted a flurry of unusual butterfly and moth activity.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society proudly announced the winners of the 2025 Tye Trophy Competition, at an esteemed event that highlights farms in the North of England and recognises their contributions to conservation and environmental improvements. The winners were revealed at the Great Yorkshire Show on 9th July.

Butterfly Conservation has launched a nationwide rescue mission for the UK’s butterflies and needs the people of Lancashire to get involved! Last summer, Lancashire’s butterflies sent an urgent SOS through Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count, with citizen scientists in Lancashire spotting only 19,379 butterflies and day-flying moths during the three-week period.