Iowanic wrote:
Sorry! Couldn't pass that one up!
What's winter like in England, J? What's the worst storm you can remember?
Where I live is sheltered to some extent by the mountain range in Derbyshire, so this area escapes the worst weather from the Atlantic.
The worst storm I remember was in 1987 when many trees...some 100+yrs old...were blown down...
The Great Storm of 1987 has gone down in history for the wake of destruction it left across the Southern Counties. In the worst storm to hit England since 1703, winds hit 100mph and battered the countryside and coast.
...' Some 15 million trees were blown down on 16 October 1987, and tragically 19 people lost their lives. Damage to buildings, and cars, and the everyday infrastructure of modern life was massive, as the country slowly cleared up the aftermath of that one night of destruction.
Now twenty years on, we can look back and assess the impact on the country's trees and woodlands...'
Full article...by the Forestry
Commission....http://www.forestry.gov.uk/thegreatstorm
There has been considerable debate among ecologists and tree experts about the impact of the storms. From the initial devastation and shock of the morning after, some have argued that the storm damage opened up undermanaged woodlands – let in light, creating structural diversity and valuable deadwood habitats. In areas of plantation and timber crop, the response and reaction of organisations in working together to manage the timber, enabled the impact to be managed, and the crops could be easily replanted.
Many ancient trees and woodlands survived - including the 4000 medieval pollarded oaks of Staverton Park, which were surrounded by the snapped trunks of the conifers at Rendlesham Forest. Even where trees did fall, some remained rooted in the soil, and continued to grow; others have become valuable habitats, with birds nesting in upturned roots, and ponds filling root holes to supporting a wide range of wildlife.
One consequence of the Storm was that it engendered a keen interest in the role and importance of deadwood in forest ecosystems. This interest and understanding can be seen in current forest management policy and practice.
http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/forestry/infd-77ecqw
Login
Register
FAQ
