What next after Storm Goretti tree ‘devastation’?

Storm Goretti flattened thousands of trees in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly when it hit southwestern England on January 8; has left properties, gardens and conservation charities facing one of the biggest restoration challenges in decades.

How does the region plan to recover and future-proof its landscape against stronger storms?

About 119 trees, some planted in the 1950s and 60s, were lost or damaged on St Michael’s Mount this month.

Cornwall Council He described the storm as one of the “most severe storms in living memory.”

“It’s sad to see the visible change,” said Henry Matthews, head of land and property at St Aubyn Estates Ltd, which owns St Michael’s Mount and nearby Friendship Woods.

“Around 500 trees were lost across the region,” he added.

“The next phase is recovery, removal of fallen trees and planning for restoration and replanting.

“We won’t do this right away; it will be the right tree in the right place, taking into account future climate change conditions, biodiversity and landscape character.”

He added: “We will take advice from experts and there will probably be some natural regeneration, but there will also be some targeted reforestation.”

Could more trees come down?

As well as dealing with the consequences of the storm, people in Cornwall are also preparing for the future.

Simon Hocking, chief ranger for the National Trust in West Cornwall, said high winds may have weakened trees in the area.

“[The trees have] it was shaken by the winds and the root plates moved. Future storms mean these are vulnerable.”

He said his focus now is on “preparation for the future.”

“It’s hard to grasp the extent of the damage,” he said, stepping over the shattered branches of a massive tree that fell during Storm Goretti.

He said it was a “huge moment” and “unprecedented” in his life.

The National Trust said it planned to continue its “ambitious tree planting programme” but added that as well as clearing roads and restoring public access, it would also allow “natural regeneration to take place” in some woodlands.

Which trees can withstand strong winds?

A few miles away, Darren Dickie, of Trebah Garden near Falmouth, is considering what could replace 100-year-old trees that have not survived.

“We will plant trees that are less prone to wind damage,” the head gardener said.

“The trees we lost were very tall and vulnerable to strong winds.

“We could look at some of the native trees that weren’t as damaged by the storm. They might be sacred.

“[It’s] “Trees that will tolerate these extremes in conditions as well as drought as the climate changes,” he added.

Tree surgeon Fiona Curtis, who works at the National Trust’s Godolphin Estate near Helston, said she had “never seen anything like this before”.

“We are cleaning the roads, cutting down the trees of the houses,” he said.

“There are a lot of damaged trees that need to be sorted out and I’m hopeful that these types of storms won’t become more regular.”

How do experts choose climate-resistant trees?

Comparisons were made between Storm Goretti and Storm Goretti. The Great Storm that devastated the south of England in 1987.

“It’s truly jaw-dropping to lose so many trees at once,” said Cecily Withall, from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London.

In 1987, approximately 700 trees were lost here.

“If at any point at Kew we lose a tree in our environment, it’s really important to choose a species that will survive in the long term,” he said.

“We look at the longevity and drought tolerance of these trees and choose a tree that will be there for the next 100-plus years.

“But it’s really important to remember that no matter how we plant and care for our trees, mother nature will always win if she so chooses.”

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