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Westonbirt
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:31 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by john shiell
It's getting that time of year again and wondering if anyone is contemplating a trip to Westonbirt. The forestry commission's website indicates 'turning yellow'. I imagine the amount of rain we've had recently the trees will be slow to take on their full autumn colour.
John
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:57 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by masch
While I may be interested, I don't even know where the place is..... Which suggests that it is too far away for me for a casual trip, unfortunately
Marc
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:57 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Paul Mitchell
Here you go Marc
www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
I've been there once a couple of years ago but made the mistake of going there at the weekend... imagine Alton Towers on a bank holiday except with trees... There were certain Acer trees that had an orderly queue of photographers awaiting their turn
Wonderful place to go and photograph but my advice would be to go during the week.
Paul
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:48 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by masch
Hmmm.... that does look nice...
Must plan a visit sometime...
Marc
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:49 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by SteveH
Living 3 miles from the place, count me in! I recommend Westonbirt and will take a look at the autumn colours in the next week and post here.
I spoke to them about LF use for the Cotswolds visit last year, and they were happy to have big cameras on site.
The tea room is good but expensive!
Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 5:12 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Steve Bell
I went there last year, the acer glade was very muddy, wellies would have been ideal. I lost one of the rubber feet from my manfrotto tripod in the mud, its still got the walking stick rubber on it I added as a temporary measure. This year I'll investigate places closer to home.
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:17 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Mike M
Going a little off topic but.....
What are the best filters in places like Westonbirt? Do you really need to use filters?
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:28 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Steve Bell
All I've used is a polariser to increase saturation and cut down on glare from the leaves when shooting colour.
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:40 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Mike M
Thank you Steve, I'II give the polariser a go.

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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 9:40 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Paul Mitchell
I second the use of a polariser. I also sometimes use my Lee coral grad inverted which gives a little ooomph to the leaves on the ground.
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 2:56 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by SteveH
Hi All,
Went past Westonbirt yesterday - looking very nice; fantastic reds and golds.
Steve
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:35 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by keffs
SteveH wrote:Hi All,
Went past Westonbirt yesterday - looking very nice; fantastic reds and golds.
Steve
It is shown by the Forestry Comission as only "gone yellow". Does anybody know accdurate and current these Forestry Comission colour ratings are?
Steve
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 10:33 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Lynne Evans
Forestry Commission colour ratings are quite variable in their accuracy. For Westonbirt I would say that visits from now through to late November will give plenty to photograph. Different species colour up at different times, so there's a sequence of photo opportunities. My advice is to get there as early as possible - I've found the gate open at 8.30 on occasions.
Good luck!
Lynne
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 3:43 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by keffs
Lynne Evans wrote:...My advice is to get there as early as possible - I've found the gate open at 8.30 on occasions.
Good luck!
Lynne
That is a good tip, as officially it opens at 9:00am. I think next week is possibly not the best time as its school half-term, which possibly means lots more people to get in the way.
Steve