Here at The ET we may not have access to webcams in hedgerows or infra-red pictures of badgers in their setts, but we do have features writer Hannah Gray to discover what's going on in and around the Peterborough area.

Autumn is treating Ferry Meadows very well, says its senior ranger, Terry Daunt.

"At the moment the park looks absolutely stunning with greens, yellows and reds and many shades of those coming together to create an absolute picture. People should come to Nene Park if only to see that," he said.

Visitors looking to see animals should go either early in the morning or in the evening, and the most likely animal you'll come across is the fox.

Terry added: "They are always about, particularly scavenging around bins or hunting for other prey items."

Badgers are also to be found around Ferry Meadows, and are most commonly seen from twilight into dark, although they can be hard to track down.

There are also other animals to be seen, if you know where to look.


Autumn watch: Hampton Nature Reserve
Hampton Nature Reserve is home to many plants and animals – perhaps most famously around 30,000 great crested newts, 6 November 2008.

What's going on in your garden or local park?
We'd like to hear about the wildlife close to where you live:
Send your pictures and stories to Hannah Gray by email on hannah.gray @peterboroughtoday.co.uk.

Related:
In pictures: Children have heaps of Autumn fun, despite cold.

Autumn captured in pictures.


Terry said: "Despite colder evenings bats are quite common in the park, and good places to see them are either over water bodies such as the rowing course at Thorpe Meadows, or in sheltered wind-free areas like avenues of trees or in woodlands.

"The other fairly common large animal is the Muntjac deer. This is a deer that has been introduced into this country and can be seen around Ferry Meadows, particularly in the woodland and wetland areas, and they are known as the barking deer.

"Others to look out for which are usually seen are the stoat and the weasel.

"These are usually seen dashing across a footpath in front of you as you walk. Very similar in appearance, the stoat is the larger and has a black tip to its tail."



Terry's colleague Ashley Wheal said there are also many feathered friends to be seen.

"This is a very exciting time for bird spotting, as winter visitors pour into our park from colder countries," he said. "We get redwings, fieldfares, and lots of ducks, geese and swans on our lakes. Our favourite visiting bird is the waxwing."

Of course, not all of the animals are out and about, as some are tucking themselves away for the winter.

Terry said: "Some animals do hibernate in this country, the best known being the hedgehog, and the others being the bat and the dormouse. As winter approaches they begin to put on a lot of fat that sustains them during the cold dark days of winter.

"During this time their metabolism slows right down. As far as animals' sleeping arrangements go, hedgehogs tend to get into dry areas under hedges and other thick vegetation out of the weather, and you usually find they roll themselves in grass and other vegetation.

"Bats get into all sorts of places – trees, buildings (barns etc), tunnels, in fact anywhere that is warm and dry."

It is a transitional period for the plants in the park as well.

Ashley said: "Most annual plants will generally be dying back now. They will have completed their life cycle and hopefully produced many seeds to produce new plants for next year.

"Most perennial plants will also appear to be dying in the autumn, however they will only be resting or dormant.