How Fast Is Leaf Falling?

Autumn leaves tumble at about 1.2 metres per second — slightly slower than walking. Their flat shape creates so much drag that they drift sideways through the air as much as they fall, which is why they scatter so widely from any given tree.

A single mature oak tree drops around 250,000 leaves each autumn — collectively, autumn leaves in the UK alone weigh several million tonnes.

• Slightly slower than walking
• Tumble due to their low density