Storm damage to trees worst in years

Woodlands, parks and gardens cared for by the trust have seen the worst damage for more than two decades, and in some cases since the "great storm" of 1987.

More than 40 were felled at the National Trust's Attingham Park in Shrewsbury on one night alone last month.

And a Powys landmark, a giant Scots pine known as "the Lonely Tree" also fell after standing for at least 150 years in Llanfyllin.

A report released today by the trust said old oak, ash and beech trees have been lost in woods, while specimen trees in parks and gardens have also been damaged as at least a dozen storms swept through the UK from December to February.

Given the extent of the wild weather, which hit the western half of England, Wales and Northern Ireland particularly badly, losses could have been worse, National Trust nature and wildlife specialist Matthew Oates said.

With extreme weather events likely to become more frequent as the climate changes, there is a need to plan what trees to grow where to make woodlands more resilient to the changes, he added.

More than 50 National Trust sites have been surveyed, with many gardeners, rangers and foresters saying that the losses of trees has been the greatest in more than two decades, although other sites had little damage.

Nowhere has been as devastated as it was in 1987 or 1990, said the trust, but some sites had lost hundreds of trees including valued ancient specimens.

Many trees were uprooted and blown over rather than snapped off, due to the saturated ground conditions.

Killerton Estate in Devon suffered some of the biggest losses, the trust said, with more than 500 trees blown over, including 20 that were significant to the estate's landscaping.

Specimen trees have been badly damaged or blown over in gardens and parks, particularly in south-west England and Wales, but gardens outside the west have also suffered, with Tatton Park near Manchester, Nymans in Sussex and Scotney Castle in Kent all affected.

Mr Oates said there was great sadness at losing old, sentinel trees which he described as "nature's cathedrals".

Trust gardens were open for business, he added. In parkland and woodland, trees would be cleared where necessary from bridleways, roads or vistas, but as much timber as possible would be left as habitat for wildlife such as beetles.