Rock group The Stone Roses had a famous song called This Is The One, which sums up autumn at Sheffield Park And Garden perfectly. This is the one season of the year when all the planning and hard work over the past 150 years at Sheffield Park comes to fruition.

We are fortunate enough to be designated by the NCCPG (the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens) as the premier autumn colour garden in the country. This year has provided us with the perfect conditions for what will be a fantastic show – just enough sunshine and heat to favour shades of red, purple and scarlet, interspersed with just enough rainfall to bring on the golds and butter yellows.

Combine the brilliant colouring of the Nyssa tree (commonly known as Tupelo), the scarlet oaks, deciduous conifers, Japanese maples, many types of birch and a whole array of other trees and shrubs, sit them alongside mirror lakes and underpin them with meandering paths and intimate views, and you have a stunning composition to behold and enjoy.

On a practical level we are constantly adding to our collection and this is the ideal time for planting, with the ground warm enough to make establishment easy and with no need to nurse plants through drought periods. Just remember to select young, small, healthy plants and you will enjoy great success.

We have our fingers crossed for a little rain because on our scale the following is impossible, but for a smaller garden it is worth considering watering rhododendrons and camellias now, to promote flower production for next spring. Watering once or twice a week will be rewarded with an abundance of blooms.

If you want some quality time to relax and enjoy the autumn colour at its very best, come and celebrate the National Trust’s Great British Walk at Sheffield Park. The team here have devised a new four-and-a-half-mile walk that takes in great views of our garden and park land, with lots of history along the way. Find out about the Second World War Canadian camp, the history of cricket at Sheffield Park and uncover hidden artefacts along the way. The walk finishes at our tearoom, so you can reward yourself with a delicious treat.