Thanks for the comments, folks.
Autumn does lead to winter but, as noted by Matt, it heralds Spring.
I love the change in the position of the rising and setting sun during the year. I really like the light very early in the morning and late in the evening in summer but would not like the idea of a day length that hardly varied during the year. The colours in autumn, the new growth in the spring and the migrating birds in both seasons are just great. Wouldn't change it for the world.
Dave