How amazing, yet how predictable, that the warnings about potential damage to property and transport from the remnant of hurricane Ophelia should happen exactly 30 years since the ‘Great Storm’ of 1987. Whereas the worst affected areas in 1987 were the south-east and southern East Anglia (15 million trees blown down) in 2017 it was the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland that bore the brunt of the storm. The north-east, although experiencing strong winds, was saved the worst effects on both occasions. The pictures in the press reminding us of the events of 16th October, 1987 often show that large mature trees were uprooted, rather than snapped-off above the ground, this showing the ‘bulldozing’ force of the 100+ miles an hour winds.
Also in the news at the moment is the huge destruction of the natural environment in Portugal by many forest fires, these following on the heels of reports of the same environmental destruction by forest fires in California, U.S.A. In both cases a protracted drought and strong low humidity winds have made it very difficult for the authorities to contain the blazes.
In eastern England it has here, so far, been a comparatively dry autumn. In Barton there is another threat to many local trees – deliberate felling for commercial development – see previous blog on ‘Top Field’.