Clocks Going Back & Enjoying Autumn
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Published 21 Oct 2020 in Colleagues
The days are getting darker with the leaves turning, the temperature is dropping and soon the clocks will change - Daylight saving time is here! However, this is a beautiful season in which we all can take the time to enjoy the colours of autumn in many woodland areas.
When do the clocks go back?
In Autumn 2020, the clocks will go back on 25 October at 2AM by 1 hour.
What is Daylight saving time?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward 1 hour from standard time during the summer months, and back again in the fall, in order to make better use of natural daylight.
Why do the clocks change?
The clocks go back to revert to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) which was in place before British Summer Time (BST) started in March. The clocks went back for the summer because of a campaign at the beginning of the 20th Century to change the clocks during the summer months to avoid wasting time in the morning.
Today people argue that changing the clocks will be good for: reducing energy consumption for environmental reasons, having longer evenings to support leisure and tourism, encouraging people to exercise more outdoors and reducing road accidents.
A clever way to remember the hour-change rule is “Spring forward, Fall back”
For future clock change dates and how you can add dates to your calendar see here.
History of Daylight Saving
1784 - Benjamin Franklin first suggested the idea of daylight saving time in a whimsical article.
1907 - An Englishman and keen horse rider, William Willett (the great-great grandfather of Chris Martin from Coldplay!), campaigned to advance clocks in spring and summer and return them in the autumn. His rather complicated plan was to advance clocks by 80 minutes, in 4 separate moves of 20 mins each.
1908 - The House of Commons rejected a Bill to advance the clocks by one hour during the spring and summer months.
1916 - The Summer Time Act was passed, ordaining that for a certain period during the year legal time should be one hour in advance of GMT. Double summer time (GMT + 2 hours) was used during the Second World War.
Why not support the Woodland Trust and get out more this Autumn?
Standing up for trees, the Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. They create havens for wildlife by planting millions of trees every year, campaign for new laws to protect ancient woodland and restore damaged ancient woods so they can breathe again.
With school holidays on the horizon, why not visit a local woodland and treat your wellbeing? As part of your 5 ways to wellbeing, ‘Take Notice – Remember the simple things that give you joy’ & ‘Be Active – Do what you can, enjoy what you do and move your mood.’
You can take a breezy walk, lookout for wildlife and snap some beautiful scenery along the way. Click here to find out more.