Case Study
Storm Arwen Recovery
Storm Arwen hit the north east of England on the 26-27 November 2021 bringing recorded wind speeds of over 100mph and causing extensive damage to woodlands and properties.
Across the Estate, approximately 670 acres of coniferous crops were affected, 80,000 tonnes of trees were wind damaged and there was substantial damage to the historic parkland and hedgerow trees. Storm Malik arrived on the 29 January 2022 and added a further 20,000 tonnes of woodland to the the forest floor.
In the aftermath of the storms, the Estate's harvesting plan was halted and staff and machinery were redeployed to clear roads and address health and safety issues. 3–4 harvesting squads have been deployed throughout the woodlands and to date we have recovered 41,000 tonnes. A further 44,000 tonnes is programmed for clearance in 2023/24 and the balance in 2024/25.
It is estimated it will take up to 5 years to fully restock the woodlands.