Hexgreave Estate

There are a number of additional footpaths that branch away from the Southwell Trail including one that crosses the Hexgreave Estate in the direction of Kirklington. On this path is a line of trees which are always good value for the photography. The morning light catches them just at the right angle and in the autumn sunshine the oaks, in particular, display some vibrant colours:

One of the oak trees has lost a significant branch since last winter. I think it must be a natural break rather than anything else. I did wonder though whether the tree was in poor health as it lost it leaves way before the other oaks. The sequence below shows the oak tree last winter before the branch broke off, then in October when the tree had leaves, and finally, the autumn condition where all the leaves have fallen.

Looking at sequence, I can now see that the broken branch was much bigger than I had originally remembered. In the fifth image above (from the top) I can see a torn branch lying on the ground and another piece can be seen in the third image below - so it looks like a natural break and it would have been a sight to see it come down although I wouldn't have wanted to be too close!

Right next to the path are a couple of horse chestnut trees, one with wonderfully drooping branches. The horse chestnuts seem to be the first local trees to lose their leaves in autumn. Even at the beginning of October the leaves were brown and falling and, of course, by November they were in full winter mode:

These were the horse chestnuts in early October: 

Finally, I have never been totally sure of the identification of the some trees in the nearby field. I can't get close enough to make a firm ID but I can guess they are oaks given the similar timing of leaf colour change and the same rusty tone as the other oaks.