Where to see glorious autumn colour at National Trust properties near Petersfield

EMBRACE mellow autumn days with a visit to a National Trust property where gardens and grounds are looking stunning in their new season colours.

Uppark at South Harting and Hinton Ampner near Alresford are among the properties where the hues of red, gold and bronze are unfolding in all their glory.

Make sure you catch the Norway maple trees leading down to the house at Uppark which turn gold at this time of year.

And the exotic dahlias make a vibrant display at Hinton Ampner.

The walled garden there is full of vegetables and fruit, as well as flowers. Giant onions are drying in the late sun and pumpkins, leeks and parsnips are abundant. Raspberries provide a welcome source of nectar for Hinton’s peacock butterflies.

A central flower border glows with warm colours, and in the sunken garden eye-catching salvias in rich purple, deep blue and fiery red compete for attention with dahlia ‘Fascination’.

Said Hinton’s head gardener John Wood: “Strangely those shorter days and cooler conditions just make the dahlias flower more strongly.”

There are two hour autumn colour guided walks at Hinton Ampner on October 26 and November 5, from 10.30am. The cost is £10. Book on 0844 249 1895. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk. Photo from National Trust.