Due to our unpredictable and changeable weather, most people associate the UK with rain; we generally have rainy days throughout the year, not just throughout one season, like many other countries. In fact, you may experience beautiful sunshine, high winds, fog, and rain all in one day! No wonder us Brits talk about the weather so much.
Whilst the UK does not experience hurricanes or tropical cyclones; we often receive the tail ends of these weather events from other countries. We are, however, susceptible to storms and flooding, and the destruction from these weather events can be devastating.
For the past seven years, the Met office has been naming storms intending to raise awareness of the potential impact of severe weather events and help people stay safe and protect themselves and their property before the storm arrives.
Rather than running from January to December, the UK’s storm year runs from the beginning of September to the end of August, coinciding with autumn’s start. We are currently in the 21/22 storm season, and at the time of writing, we have had two named storms, Arwen and Barra.
The Met Office defines a named storm as;
‘A storm will be named when it has the potential to cause an amber or red warning. Other weather types will also be considered, specifically rain if its impact could lead to flooding as advised by the Environment Agency, SEPA and Natural Resources Wales flood warnings. Therefore ‘storm systems’ could be named on the basis of impacts from the wind but also include the impacts of rain and snow.’
Storms can wreak havoc on trees, as we witnessed late last year with Storm Arwen. They can break branches and larger stems or even uproot the tree altogether. Whilst we try to do everything in our power to manage the tree, in some cases, there is no alternative but to remove the tree to permit safe passage or to protect people and properties.
Our role, as tree surgeons, post-storm is to assess the damage and recommend the best course of action for you and your property.
Who is responsible for the tree?
Before we go any further, it is important to discuss who is responsible for the tree. The Arboricultural Association has created this handy guide.
This states, ‘Tree safety is nearly always the land owner’s responsibility on which they grow, but there are some exceptions, such as when a rental agreement requires the tenants of a property to manage the trees.’
There is also ‘common law’ Duty of Care for tree owners: ‘to take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which they can reasonably foresee would be likely to injure their neighbour’.
Essentially, if a tree fell and injured someone, the owner could be liable. Therefore for the safety of you and others, it is vital to have regular tree surveys of your property undertaken by professional tree surgeons who have the necessary qualifications, to assess potential weaknesses. Even if a tree is not currently posing an issue, owners can reduce the risk of future damage that may occur by proactively managing their tree stock.
After a storm has hit
Once a storm has passed, and it is safe to do so, you should check for the following:
-
Can you see any splits in the branches?
-
Is the top of the tree damaged?
-
Can you see any visible roots?
-
Is the tree leaning, or has it fallen completely?
-
Have any large branches fallen?
If you notice any of the above, it’s vital to prevent people, animals or vehicles from getting close to the tree. At any point, a branch could fall, causing injuries, property damage or even death. Contact a reputable and experienced tree surgeon to carry out a full assessment at the earliest opportunity.
Managing the tree or removing it
When we assess trees after a storm, the primary aim is to retain the tree. However, sometimes this is impossible, and you will be advised to have the tree removed. As an Arb Association approved contractor we would always try whenever possible to follow Industry best practice when responding to damaged or fallen trees.
A survey is carried out to assess the damage to your tree for both minor or major damage. Based on the outcome, the safest course of action for you, the tree and your property will be recommended.
Minor damage means there is only damage to the smaller branches. Simple pruning and clearing up the debris is usually the best course of action in this case.
Major damage means there is damage to the larger branches or stems that may support large sections of the tree’s crown. The trunk could be split or even uprooted. Whilst it is harder to save a tree with this amount of significant damage, there are instances when it is possible; if many of the leaf-bearing branches remain intact or if the tree is still upright or small enough to be straightened safely, we aim to manage the tree and retain it standing. However, if this is not an option, the tree will, unfortunately, have to be removed.
Emergency tree assistance 24/7
Throughout the year, we monitor the weather so we know when to expect storms to hit. This allows us to be fully prepared to assist you.
Our trained and experienced tree surgeons are on call 24/7, 365 days a year, to ensure a fast response should you need emergency assistance.
Call us now on 02382 440473, if you have suffered tree damage following bad weather, and the team will be happy to help.
