THIS year climate change has delayed the onset of frost and freeze and the leaves of deciduous trees have more time to change colour before dropping.

Now is the time to see the finest examples at Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire where the Acer glades in particular has a breathtaking display of reds and yellows in every hue among so many lovely trees - and not difficult to reach down the M5 and across the Tetbury.

Nearer home, the display at Bodenham Arboretum at Wolverley, north of Kidderminster, is open to visitors every day this month.

There are some spectacular trees in autumn colour already. The arboretum has been developed over 31 years by one family and now has over 2,700 species of trees interspersed with shrubs. It has four way-marked trails around woodlands, glades, lakes and pools, and has received many awards for its design and sensitivity to the rural environment. It is well sign posted from Wolverley.

If you don't have time to visit the arboretum, the trees bordering the dual carriageways from the Tardebigge pub eastwards over the hill and on into Redditch town centre, provide excellent displays of autumn colour. The designs were the work of the team led by the landscape architect Roy Winter of Hanbury, whose achievement won an award this year.

I thought readers might welcome a change from rubbish grumblers.

Graham Reddie

East Road

Bromsgrove