'Cold and harsh winter' ahead after sign we've all seen in the trees

The UK has been hit by snow (Image: Karl Hendon via Getty Images)

The summer of 2025 was one of the hottest on record, say weather experts, but it seemed to abruptly give way to autumn with a sharp drop in temperatures and trees starting to show their autumnal colours.

However, in the autumn, people spotted a sign that might suggest it will be a 'bitterly cold winter'.

According to age-old folklore, a recent occurrence could be a precursor of icy days ahead - whether you're in a city or countryside, the more observant among us will have seen this colourful display.

After the UK's scorching summer months, trees of all types were teeming with berries, with Hawthorn and Rowan trees heavily laden with tiny red fruits.

An old saying proposes that 'a plethora of berries signals a cold winter ahead'. Nature specialists have explored the science behind this claim from ancient folklore, determining whether there's any validity to it - most agree that an abundance of berries likely signifies favourable growing conditions rather than predicting the forthcoming winter, according to the Mirror.

A robin perches on a blackthorn branch, laden with sloe berries (Image: Getty Images)

Woodlands.co.uk examined this subject the last time it occurred (2010), observing that 'our holly trees were bursting with their bright red berries, and that according to folklore this was a sign that a harsh winter was imminent'.

The Woodlands.co.uk website noted: "There is no clear logic to this, as it is the spring weather that determines whether there are insects around for the flowers to be pollinated, plus sun and warmth in early autumn to help the berries to ripen.", reports <a href="https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/sign-trees-weve-seen-could-32530791" rel="Follow" target="_self">Wales Online</a>.

"The berries are particularly plump and abundant this year. The last 'good berry' year was last year (2009) and the winter that followed was the coldest for some 30 years.

"Already, we are experiencing cold and severe weather conditions (back in 2010 when it was a harsh winter) so perhaps the berries are 'right' again."

The Bannisters Yorkshire Family farm shared on their blog: "There's an old wives tale which says that an abundance of berries in the hedgerows is a sign of a cold winter to come. Well if that's the case, we're heading for a very cold one.

"Our hawthorn hedges are absolutely laden with berries this year and whilst that might not be good news amongst those who prefer a milder climate, if the tale is to be believed, it's certainly great news for wildlife."