So it’s official – a walk to take in the seasonal colours of autumn is good for our wellbeing, according to new research by the National Trust.

Indeed, now is the time for considering what we might want to plant to give us a blaze of autumn colour in future years, whether it’s Japanese maples or other shrubs and trees which produce stunning burnt orange, red and burgundy hues as well as vibrant berries.

Here are some places you may find inspiration:

* Thorp Perrow Arboretum, Bedale, North Yorkshire thorpperrow.com: Amazing arboretum, woodland garden and falconry centre with 85 acres of woodland walks and one of the largest and rarest collections of trees and shrubs in the north of England, with five National Collections – ash, lime, walnut, laburnum and cotinus.

* Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, trentham.co.uk: Hot autumn colours simmer as light softly hits the planting among the 70 flower beds in the Italian Gardens, while the colourful Rivers of Grass make a staggering impact. There’s also woodland originally planted by Capability Brown and more trees, chosen especially for their autumn colour, have been recently planted.

* Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire, nationaltrust.org.uk /wickenfenautumnwalk: Wicken Fen is one of Europe’s most important wetlands, supporting an abundance of wildlife. The raised boardwalk and lush grass droves allow easy access to a lost landscape where visitors can enjoy the russet tones of the sedge in the autumn months.

* Powis Castle, Powys, nationaltrust.org.uk/powis-castle: Rising above the terraced garden and estate, this medieval fortress provides a fantastic autumnal setting. The castle echoes the rich tones of seasonal foliage, as the red walls match the red vines and leaves in the surrounding woodlands.

* Drummond Gardens, Muthill, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland (Open to October 31), drummondcastlegardens.co.uk: This Scottish gem boasts one of the finest formal gardens in Europe. Fountains, urns and statuary demonstrate the Italianate style and in autumn it comes into its own when the sunlight hits the leaves of 14 different species of acer along with the russets and gold hues in the woodland regions.

* Divis Mountain, Hannah-stown, Belfast, County Antrim, nationaltrust.org. uk/divisautumnwalk: In autumn the colour purple dominates the mountain, which is set in the heart of the Belfast Hills. Look out for the Devil’s-bit Scabious carpets – a curious-looking plant with a purple head with antlers sticking out, which is the food source for the marsh fritillary butterfly, only found on three sites on Divis.

* Westonbirt Arboretum Tetbury, Gloucestershire, forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt: Westonbirt is home to the National Japanese Maple Collection, with more than 200 different types in the collection. The Forestry Commission opened Weston-birt Arboretum to the public in 1961 and, in 1966, a new Acer Glade was established alongside the original one planted by Robert and George Holford in 1870.

* Mount Stewart, Newtownards, County Down, nationaltrust.org. uk/mount-stewart: Follow the lake walk to discover the ornamental trees and shrubs in their autumn coats of red and gold, reflected in the still water of the lake. There are all kinds of things for kids to discover as well, including red squirrels and ducks, figures of dinosaurs, cheetahs, orangutans, squirrels and dodos resting among unique plants. The colours around the lake change as the season passes, while the wooded areas support a range of plants from all corners of the world.

This week's jobs -

* Finish picking maincrop apples like Spartan and Sunset 
* Check greenhouse heating and insulate to save heat 
* Make sure bowls of bulbs being forced for indoor flowering do not dry out 
* Make your own leaf mould, bagging up fallen leaves into black polythene bags with a few holes in them for air 
* Protect tender plants by covering crowns with straw or wrapping horticultural fleece around them 
* Clean bird feeders with a stiff brush and top them up during the cooler months 
* Continue mulching bare ground and beds with compost or other organic matter 
* Lift and divide perennials including clumps of crocosmias, replanting them in soil with added organic matter 
* Lift and store dahlias in wooden trays in a cool, frost-free place 
* Pick the last of the runner beans.

Best of the bunch  -

The fantastic foliage of these trees and shrubs come into their own in autumn in a blaze of oranges, reds and burgundies.  

Grow them in full sun or dappled shade in leafy, moist but well-drained soil. Some, such as A. palmatum ‘Garnet’, prefer ericaceous compost.  Mulch annually in autumn and shelter from cold winds and spring frosts which may damage new growth.  

Badly placed shoots should be cut off in winter to develop an even network of branches.  On established plants, keep pruning to a minimum