It is with trepidation that I drive to the Priory after or even, like this morning, during a gale. Storm Katie caused havoc across Southern England and the thought of a large oak or ash lying on its side gave me an anxious twitch as I drove to work. Carefully dodging branches and a few downed trees on the road, my real worry was seeing one of the huge oaks keeled over in the garden.
Relief was my first reaction on arrival. A quick scan reassured me that no biggies were on their knees, or dunked into the ponds, but still, there were plenty of large limbs scattered about. These few shots nicely illustrate why I avoid walking beneath large trees in gusting winds.
The old foot-bridge was also battered and partly collapsed.
I’m not having much luck with bridges at the moment. It’s become a prominent feature of my life and, frankly, just a tad tedious.
The damage is more wide-spread than I’ve shown and, when the winds have died down, it will take me a whole chain-saw-day to sort out.
I’m happy that whilst I might have lots more wood for the Priory fires, I don’t have to dismember one of the character trees I’ve grown to know and love. Katie did some damage but she could have been far, far worse.
The Anxious Gardener 
I waited out the storm inside with my books and seed catalogues and haven’t made time to walk on the Heath since but I bet there’s plenty of tree damage over there. I always feel a bit sad when I see big old trees torn down by the wind …
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Absolutely Caro. I always feel very sad at the death of a huge tree – which is why I approach the Priory with a sense of dread after a storm. There must be two dozen really large oaks there which I’ve grown to love and the thought of any of them toppling over is awful. Do you mean Hampstead when you say Heath? Quite exposed up there, I suppose. Go an have a look and report back! Dave
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Glad to hear everyone survived the storm relatively intact. You still have a few more years before your youngsters assume the mantle.
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Hey Frank,good to hear from you and what a memory you have for older posts. And yes, I hope none of the monolithic trees come down during my time. Fingers crossed. D
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I was on my little narrowboat in Wiltshire when storm Katie hit…one of the worst nights ever! Not sure if I’ve any damage at allotments yet. Home tomorrow. We shall see 😕
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That sounds rather exciting though. Did you need to bail water over the sides? I’ve never been on a boating holiday but I’m a little addicted to Timothy West and Prunella Scales on their canal trips. A guilty pleasure. Erm, how many berths does your narrowboat have? Dave
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Sorry just spotted your comment/question…2 berth (plus a grandchild if required) haha
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I know just how you must’ve been feeling. We are on holiday in France and have no idea if we’ve lost any of our big beautiful ash or oak. Hopefully our neighbours would have texted though they might not want to mar our break with bad news. Pleased for your escape. Fingers crossed for ours!
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I think you’ll be fine, Caro. I saw plenty of damage driving about Sussex but not one Big Tree felled by the wind. No promises but I reckon you needn’t worry. Enjoy your trip. D
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Thank you for allaying my fears while away. We survived (and the skiing too which was a miracle for me) with just lots of twiggy debris and like you, one or two bigger branches. Phew! 🙂
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I think you had it worse than we did in Devon although it did close the Dawlish railway (again!).
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Sorry to hear that Philip. I remember it got a real battering a while back. I spent a happy New Year week in Dawlish with school-friends many years ago. We drank too much and danced a lot to Madness – which gives you some idea of how long ago it was. D
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Extra (non gardening) jobs are the last thing you need in spring; glad your fears weren’t realised Dave.
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I know! As if I didn’t have enough to do, Christina. Still. All part of life’s rich tapestry or something. Dave
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Oh, not another bridge. I suggest pole vaults (though maybe not with gardening tools in hand). Glad nothing irreplaceable was damaged, Dave.
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I’ve made a note re pole vaults, Stacy (but let’s face it, I’m going to forget it soon enough but because you’re simply not being sensible). My scary Rugby Coach, Mr Rees, once entered a young lad in the pole vault at the County Athletics Championship. The poor kid was petrified, understandably, as he’d never seen a pole vault before let alone hoisted himself over a high bar with one. He didn’t win. Dave
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Seeing a large tree felled is so sad. We know that they tend to live much longer than human beings, having seen countless seasons of nature. Glad none were lost at the Priory, David.
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Thanks Cynthia. Luckily, in my eight years at the Priory, none of the really big trees have come down. I’m hoping that remains the case. Dave
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I think of that a lot, we have gales too on this side! We’re just getting ready to make some foot paths much like this only with no side railing, moving rocks, crocus just up, no snow now, rain, a very mild winter, I’ve been noticing some dead limbs hanging high and hoping they will fall out with a gale but no they are probably waiting for a perfectly still day when we would never expect it.
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You’re right to be concerned, I think. I have an expert check the trees in the garden once a year. Dead oak branches tend to be fine (but not always) as they are very hard. But any limbs that are rotten and in danger of collapse I do have removed – especially where people are likely to walk. It’s a danger of having large trees in the garden, I guess. D
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Glad it wasn’t worse. Take care with that chainsaw… And enjoy rebuilding yet another bridge!!!
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Hi Janet, I usually only wield the chainsaw when there is someone else about (for obvious reasons) but thanks for your concern. Could do without another bridge building exercise – especially as it’s made from oak and is immensely heavy. The chap who made it 20 or 30 years ago still does work at the Priory so I’ll ask him to have a look at it, I think. D
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It was very blustery driving up the A1 this afternoon but thankfully my garden is intact…. I’m sorry you will have work to do in order to sort out the damage at the Priory but I’m glad no oak trees were upended and the wood blown down can be used for something else.
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We are a little short of firewood (as the tree surgeon haven’t been for a couple of years) so I’m often scavenging around for fallen branches. Katie gave me a bumper crop! D
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I thought of my English friends when I read of the storm. I’m glad it was too bad for you.
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Oops, that’s supposed to read ‘was not!’
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Thanks Eliza (I quite liked the original comment without the ‘not’)! D
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Here in South Wales, only Imogen decided to do any damage though some of that was concealed until last week when I made the mistake of resting on a fence post while surveying my handiwork! Whilst you seem to be suffering a bout of bridgeitis at the moment, I suppose the plus is that they were perhaps creaking a bit unbeknownst to you or anyone and viewing the storm damage is probably preferable to falling in when you rest an arm on the railing! And I hope the absence of any mention means that your new home (about which you’ll no doubt be blogging soon – hint) was unscathed.
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Hi John, you’re right about the old bridge. It did need some tlc but I’d hoped it would be OK for a few months more. You are curious about my new garden aren’t you? I fear though you will be disappointed – it’s pretty unremarkable. Post coming soon about it. Really. D
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Glad you were spared any irreparable damage. It calmed down before reaching us although there are a couple of trees I would be glad to see blown down in the garden. Amelia
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In my experience though Amelia, it’s the trees I like that suffer not the ones I actually want to lose. Glad you missed the storm but it was quite exciting. D
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