Tower and Town, November 2026 (view the full edition)Nature NotesI’m not quite sure where the year has gone, but November is already here! It can be an overlooked month for wildlife, but there is still plenty going on. The trees in Savernake Forest are changing colour, with beautiful shades of gold, copper and red. I particularly love those frosty mornings when the low sunlight filters through the leaves and catches the mist hanging between the trees. The forest can look quite magical. After such a hot, dry summer, I wonder how long the autumn colours will last this year. Amongst the fallen leaves, there are still plenty of fungi to look out for. One of the easiest to recognise is the Fly Agaric, with its bright red cap and white spots, often found beneath birch trees. Another favourite is the Magpie Inkcap, with its striking dark cap covered in irregular white patches, giving it an almost black and white feathered appearance. It is often found growing amongst the fallen leaves. Then there is the lovely Amethyst Deceiver, a small mushroom with a striking purple colour that fades as it gets older. Boletes are interesting too. Rather than having gills beneath their caps, they have a sponge-like layer of tiny pores which release their spores. Many fungi also have an important relationship with trees, helping their roots take up water and nutrients from the soil. Down along the river, I keep an eye out for Kingfishers. The young birds are now looking for territories of their own, while the adults are busy defending their stretches of river. You will often hear their sharp, high-pitched peep before you see them, followed by that unmistakable flash of electric blue as they dart low over the water. Another bird worth looking out for is the Water Rail. These secretive birds usually keep themselves well hidden amongst the vegetation, but during winter they sometimes become a little bolder. You are more likely to hear one first, with its extraordinary squealing call that sounds rather like a piglet! They are one of my favourite birds to spot, with a long red bill, slate-grey chest and boldly barred flanks. November might be quieter than summer, but there is still so much to see if you take the time to look.    Helen Llewelyn |