TRADITIONALLY it is in springtime when we expect to encounter plants and animals getting involved in courtship and reproduction, and for most this is indeed the case, but there a few organisms that choose the damper and cooler autumn months.

Probably the most famous of these are the fungi which, over the next few weeks, will be producing their often bizarrely shaped fruiting bodies, throughout nature reserves, parks and gardens.

Other autumn reproducers are some of the larger spider species. We have all probably encountered a house spider or two scuttling across the floor in the last few weeks. These are among Britain's largest spiders and whilst they have a fearsome appearance they are totally harmless.

There are increasingly active at this time of year as they emerge from their safe refuges to search out a mate. For most of the year, they wait patiently in webs in secluded corners feeding on other invertebrates which if left unchecked, by these spiders, could certainly prove to be household pests.

Interestingly this species protects our houses from another rather similar species of spider that is commonly found living in hedgerows.

This hedgerow species of spider decides for itself on a territory that it is quite prepared to defend this against incursions from all comers. This species was inadvertently introduced into Canada from England where it has become a real nuisance.

The absence of our house spider species in Canada has allowed the English hedgerow living species to take up residence in people's homes. Here it establishes a territory and if a person should put a foot into this, the spider would rush forth and attempt to bit the invading foot. While it does not have a dangerous bite, the experience can be unsettling.

Britain's heaviest spider, the heath spider, is also very active at this time of year. Identified by its large size and distinctive four-spotted abdomen you are unlikely to encounter this spider in your home but it is possible to find it in your garden.

It looks similar to the much more common garden spider but this has a pale cross pattern on its back, not four spots. The heath spider like its name suggests likes the sandy soils of our heaths where it can be found spinning its orb web between the branches of tall gorse and broom plants.

Strangely though, I encounter this species much more frequently out on the marshes particularly in amongst the tall herbs on the marshy areas of Spennells Valley. Like the house spider, the heath spider is also totally harmless to us humans.