NEXT month could bring one of the most colourful autumns for many years because of the dry summer, says the Woodland Trust, the UK's leading woodland conservation body.

The trust is running an Autumn Watch survey in cooperation with the BBC asking people to look out for the approaching signs of the new season, and says that the dry weather will mean that the golds, browns and reds of turning leaves will be particularly brilliant because of the dry spell.

The survey - a follow-up to the highly successful Spring Watch programme earlier in the year - is asking people to report signs of the oncoming season like ripening berries, conkers and migrating birds departing south.

Anyone wishing to take part should log onto www.bbc.co.uk/autumnwatch