There might be busy days and tight schedules. Yet the beauty of England is too good to resist. So ever so often you can see me pack my bags to explore the vast beauty of England. 

Yorkshire and Derbyshire are one of the greenest places in England. Sheffield, where we live, is in Yorkshire and it is England’s fourth largest city. It has five lovely rivers Don, Sheaf, Rivelin, Loxley and Porter surrounded by about more than a hundred forests and woodlands.

I particularly love the autumn forests. They seem to be blooming in various hues of red and yellow. The sense of warmth one gets seeing those colors on a cold autumn day is tremendous. I could earnestly declare that the onset of autumn is the time, which brings out the exquisite beauty of nature.

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I suppose the trees start blushing, eagerly awaiting the arrival of snow. The entire place seems to be blossoming in radiance. Every single leaf colors with joy. The landscape turns bright and warm, and in my heart surges joy and happiness.

One of the picturesque gardens near the city is the Beau chief garden, a vast stretch of woodland located by the River Sheaf. The road leading to the garden is matted with lovely autumn foliage that rustles musically as I tread on it.

Sheaf River at the garden is a seat of tranquility. Green hills in the backdrop and bright autumn foliage in front add colour to the picturesque scene. Serene silence permeates the place. The gliding sound of the ducks is the only sound that can be heard. This peaceful and irresistible beauty captivates me as I embark on my walk through this woodland. 

Deep into the woodlands, the sky above seems to be hidden by a meshwork of the ever-pervasive branches. Gigantic trees with these overpowering umbrellas bring home the enormity of Mother Nature.

The sunlight trickling through this intricate lacework seems to bring cosmic power and illumination. Light reflecting from the bed of fallen leaves, makes it seem like an oasis of gold. The late autumn brings in a beauty of its own. After months of displaying a palette of colours, the leaves finally tire and droop, leaving behind the solemn, bare tree. I always wonder if this autumn tree symbolizes melancholy having lost its beautiful camouflage or if it signifies hope of rejuvenation and life. 

The tree stands proud with delicately poised branches. Sometimes it seems to be a choreographed pose frozen all the way through winter. I can’t help but feel deeply philosophical strolling about in woodland during the late autumn. Each tree seems to be radiating pride, hope and grace. 

Not only the woodlands, but even the city suburb seems trying to absorb the beauty and tranquility of the forests. Autumn unleashes its colours in these mundane areas before winter could cast its long shadow. Cold winding road is lit up by a line of colourful autumn trees decorating its path. The otherwise boring journeys by motorists will surely be brightened up by this mighty yet delicate foliage.

Arrival of winter turns the golden yellow landscape into a snow covered one. As a bright young girl from Madras where sun and beaches are plenty, I simply adore the autumn and winter in England. With the nights reaching -2⁰C, I find myself facing winter wrapped up tightly in layers of blankets, with teeth chattering and the heating turned to maximum.

Yet, the mornings continue to amaze me, greeting me with a snow-carpet welcome. The lush green grass turns overnight into a pure white carpet. A part of me feels hesitant to spoil the innocent beauty of the soft white snow, while a part of me propels me to run my hands through the snow, making snowballs.

I must be the only person happily skipping around in the street while it snows. Not to mention about me falling down on the snow while carefully avoiding the salt patches, thinking they are dirt. Yeah! When it snows, barrows tip salt on the ice to avoid skidding. And it is those salt patches I decided to avoid and off I went on the ground. Yet, that didn’t deter me from playing around in snow. I still love snowfall.

Be it autumn or winter, Sheffield, the land on seven hills, offers me a potpourri of nature’s beauty catering to my visual and sensual appetite. Each season brings out something beautiful in her, like a gorgeous woman changing her attire and embellishing herself for each new occasion. The sweetness of nature is sprayed across Sheffield making her utterly exquisite.

This is the first of my series of my exploration of England’s beauty. Hope you enjoyed my experiences.