National Trust counts the cost of Storm Éowyn
North East properties face storm damage bill, as Tony Henderson reports.
National Trust properties in Northumberland are assessing the damage and repair costs of recent Storm Éowyn.
Less than two months after Storm Darragh swept across the country, felling 30 trees at Cragside, the Trust estate near Rothbury has suffered further losses with another 100+ trees bought down.
More are expected to be added to the tally as checks continue across the estate and forestry teams are working fast to winch out parts of a 45m tree, thought to have been planted 150 years ago, that has fallen into the Debdon Burn, blocking the water flow.
If left, the debris could cause erosion, water-logging, and potentially damage Cragside’s pumphouse and its Victorian hydraulics.
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In the formal garden, a large yew at the entrance fell on to neighbouring yews and some glass panes were lost from the 1870s Orchard House.
Staff are concerned that the loss of the yews will make the Orchard House more vulnerable to future storms, as they had acted as a protective buffer.
In the Valley, a recently upgraded timber bridge was damaged by a falling Douglas fir, and elsewhere trees had their tops cleanly sheared off by the force of the gales.
On the 13,500-acre Wallington Estate, dozens of trees were windblown or snapped, including 200-year-old beeches planted as part of the original garden designs in the East Wood.
The impact of the storm meant some walks and cycle trails were closed along with roads blocked by fallen trees.
Shelia Das, the National Trust head of gardens and parks said: "Our ranger and garden teams are assessing the aftermath but it's already clear we've lost some very significant and precious trees, which is hugely sad.
“Mature trees, some with veteran qualities and important histories, give such character to our gardens and they connect us to the people who planted them, as well as playing a vital role in the ecosystems of our landscapes.
“We know climate change is making extreme storms like Éowyn more likely, posing a real threat to gardens and landscapes everywhere. Storm Éowyn reminds us that the world is changing and that we need to adapt the places we care for, to ensure that people and nature can thrive."
Due to the extent of the damage, the conservation charity is now appealing for donations to help with repairing the damage caused by the storms to include tree planting, building repairs and to go towards its climate adaptation work.