THE SIGHT of trees turning golden-brown and sound of fallen leaves underfoot is usually associated with October and November.

But in Devon autumn seems to have arrived two months early as many leaves are already changing colour and falling to the ground.

Experts believe the dry, hot summer may have has ushered in a false autumn, causing some trees to abandon their normal seasonal cycle and close down prematurely in an attempt to survive by conserving water and energy.

Devon Wildlife Trust, warns the false autumn could result in a scarcity of wild food for birds and mammals during October and November.

Leaves turning prematurely brown and being shed are signs a tree is stressed and attempting to conserve water which would otherwise be lost in the normal process of photosynthesis.

It is a problem specially acute in young trees which lack the deep root systems older trees use to reach water. 

Spokesman Steve Hussey said: “For some trees this may be the last straw – the long dry spell will mean they won’t be able to survive. For others, it could mean they are weakened and more open to tree diseases in the future.”

Another casualty of the false autumn is the early ripening of wild nuts and fruits, and the lack of rain in the summer may result in many being smaller and less juicy than usual.

“A very early and thinner, less bountiful wild harvest will present a further challenge to many of the birds and mammals which rely on a diet of berries, nuts and seeds to build-up their reserves of body fat before the onset of winter,” said Steve.

“For example doormice must maximise their bodyweight in October and November to have a better chance of surviving their long winter hibernation.

“To do this they consume large numbers of high fat foods, especially hazelnuts, during autumn. But if those hazelnuts and other hedgerow fruits have already been and gone in August that presents them with a real problem. Nature’s timing is everything for our wildlife. The climate crisis is bringing with it seasonal weather patterns which it is just not adapted to.”

The charity urges residents to continue putting out a regular supply of water in their gardens for hedgehogs, badgers and birds, and to continue feeding garden wildlife with a range of high energy food.