There was a stunning display of autumnal colours in 2025 after a warm and sunny summer, but how will this year's heat affect the seasonal display?

This year's display of autumn leaves could look rather different following the UK's hottest summer on record.

Months of heat and drought have put trees under stress, causing some to shed their leaves earlier than usual in a phenomenon known as a "false autumn".

Experts say this could mean a more varied display of autumn colours, with some trees losing their leaves prematurely while others are yet to change colour.

However, some trees could still produce spectacular shades of red, orange and gold.

The UK's record-breaking summer brought prolonged periods of heat and dry weather, with some parts of the country particularly affected by drought.

Kevin Martin, Head of Tree Collections at Royal Bontanic Gardens, Kew, said: "Following the UK's hottest summer on record, we may not see the usual blaze of autumn colour arrive all at once this year."

Many trees, particularly in southern England, have already shed their leaves prematurely. This happens when trees respond to heat and drought stress by dropping their leaves early to conserve water.

"False autumns are a warning sign. Trees can live for hundreds of years, but they are increasingly under pressure from a rapidly changing climate," Martin said.

However, some trees could still produce spectacular autumn colours.

"Recent rainfall could still bring a strong display from individual trees in October, and some species may put on an even more impressive show than usual," he added.

Brown leaves covered the ground along The Mall in London in August 2026, following the summer's prolonged heat and drought

Forestry England says autumn colours are developing at different rates across the country's woodlands.

Its Autumn Leaf Watch tracker , externalshowed early signs of yellow, orange and red in forests including the New Forest, Delamere Forest, Wyre Forest and the Forest of Dean at the end of September.

Silver birch, rowan and horse chestnut were among the species already changing colour, while many oak and beech trees remained predominantly green.

Some western and central forests were showing stronger early signs of autumn colour, although this does not necessarily mean they will have the most vibrant displays later in the season.

Chris Sorensen, Forest Management Advisor at Forestry England, told BBC Weather: "Rather than a single moment when autumn arrives everywhere, colour tends to develop at different rates depending on local weather, elevation, tree species and site conditions."

"That's why visitors to the nation's forests can see very different stages of autumn even between forests that are relatively close together."

A mixture of sunny days and cooler nights generally provides the best conditions for a colourful autumn display.

"The ideal autumn conditions are generally a mix of sunny days and cooler nights, without prolonged periods of strong winds or heavy rain," Sorensen said.

"Those conditions allow colours to develop gradually and help leaves stay on the trees for longer, extending the display."

This year, however, the exceptionally dry summer faced by some parts of the country has left trees parched.

UK trees "desperately need more rain following months of drought", Martin said.

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