Acorns and berries are heaping up around Norfolk in a “strange” natural phenomenon. 

Stuart Banks, the National Trust’s tree and woodlands adviser for the east, said 2023 had been the second year in a row when trees had produced an abundance of seeds and berries.

Mr Banks said: “We typically call this a ‘mast year’, and it’s highly unusual to have these two years running.”

North Norfolk News: Stuart Banks, the National Trust’s tree and woodlands adviser for the east, with acorns at Blickling EstateStuart Banks, the National Trust’s tree and woodlands adviser for the east, with acorns at Blickling Estate (Image: Denise Bradley)Mr Banks said stress caused by the unusual weather of the past few years - the 2022 drought, followed by a dry winter and spring - could be behind it.

He said: “Finally the rains came over the summer to bring some relief preventing some of the early leaf drop that some places experienced last year. 

“Trees start to develop their seeds really early in the year when they put out flowers so the weather in spring has a big effect in the seeds in autumn.”

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Mr Banks said the weather meant there should be a dazzling display of autumnal colours this year - in contrast to 2022’s early leaf falls caused by the hot and dry summer.

He said: “Based on what we know so far all the signs are that this year we should see a drawn-out autumn – particularly if we don’t see a sharp dip in temperatures until much later in the season. 

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“One of my favourite places in the East of England is Blickling. 

“Its hero trees for autumn colour are beech which turn a vibrant bronze. And the colour is amplified when reflected in the lake which sits central to the park.” 

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Andy Jasper, the trust’s head of gardens and parklands, added: "This year’s wet summer weather has helped buck the trend of recent dry summers, so our plants and trees finally had a chance to hydrate and are now gearing up for a dazzling show of reds, ambers, yellows and browns this autumn.”