The Turning Trees of Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens

From champion trees to Japanese maples, discover the changing colours of Leonardslee as autumn moves through the gardens.

There is no single moment when autumn arrives at Leonardslee. 

Instead, it moves gradually through the gardens, beginning quietly in the trees before gathering pace across the landscape. A hint of gold appears in one canopy, crimson begins to gather on the edges of another, and before long, the reflections across the lakes have changed completely. 

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is home to over 100 Champion Trees, making it a remarkable place to watch this seasonal transformation unfold. The first signs of autumn colour are beginning to appear now, although the timing varies from tree to tree and year to year, depending on the weather. Visit now to catch the season as it begins, then return as the colours deepen and the landscape changes again. 

A landscape shaped by trees

The trees at Leonardslee are part of what gives the gardens their distinctive character. Mature specimens rise above the lakes and historic plantings, while acers on Maple/Acer Walk, Liquidambar, oaks, beeches and other species bring their own rhythm to the changing season. 

Many of these trees are recognised as Champion Trees, celebrated for their exceptional height, girth, rarity or significance. Together, they create a living collection with deep roots in the history of the estate, revealing new layers of colour and structure as you move through the gardens. 

In autumn, that maturity becomes particularly striking. 

The height and breadth of the trees create great canopies of colour, while the lakes provide a natural mirror, doubling the changing landscape in their reflections. 

Why do leaves change colour?

The transformation begins long before the leaves fall. 

During the warmer months, leaves are filled with chlorophyll, the green pigment that allows trees to capture sunlight and produce energy through photosynthesis. As the days become shorter and temperatures begin to fall, trees gradually prepare for winter and chlorophyll production slows. 

As the green fades, other pigments that have been present in the leaves all along become visible. 

Yellow and golden tones come from carotenoids, while red and purple shades are produced by anthocyanins. The result is the extraordinary range of colour that makes autumn so distinctive. Because different tree species respond at different rates, the colours do not arrive all at once. 

That is what makes a walk through Leonardslee so rewarding at this time of year. 

From first colour to full autumn

The season develops almost imperceptibly at first. 

The earliest changes can be subtle: a few leaves turning yellow, a warmer tone appearing among the green, or a single tree beginning to stand out against the surrounding landscape. 

Then the colour begins to spread. 

Maple/Acer Walk is one of the most striking places to see autumn colour, with acer foliage moving through fiery reds, oranges and golds. Located across the valley from Reception, it is easy to find using the garden map, available when you arrive. Follow the paths over the valley to discover this beautiful stretch of autumn colour.  Along the lakeside banks, Liquidambar, Nyssa, Euonymus alatus and Cornus kousa add further seasonal interest, while mature trees across the estate gradually take on rich shades of amber and bronze. 

The gardens changes with every passing week. 

Paths become softer beneath fallen leaves. Garden views take on a warmer, deeper character. Across the lakes, reflections shift from green to gold, red and orange, creating a different composition at every turn. 

The beauty of the changing landscape

Part of the magic of autumn at Leonardslee is that there is no single view that captures the season. 

The gardens are constantly changing. 

A tree that blends quietly into the landscape in one visit might become the focal point a few days later. A familiar path can look completely different as the canopy above it changes. Even the same lake can appear transformed as the trees around it move through the season. 

Whether you follow a favourite path, pause beside the lakes or look out for the blue plaques marking the Champion Trees, autumn offers a new way to experience Leonardslee’s living landscape. 

And then, gradually, the colour begins to leave. 

Leaves drift onto the paths and water, the canopies become lighter and the structure of the trees is revealed once again. 

Autumn at Leonardslee is not simply a season of falling leaves. It is a landscape in transition, changing a little more every day and inviting visitors to return, look again and see the gardens in a new light.