The Impact of Arwen

Northumberland’s forests are still suffering from the extensive damage caused when Storm Arwen hit the region in late November last year.

Arwen had a disproportionately large impact on Northumberland’s trees because winds came from the North, rather than the South West, which is the prevailing wind direction.

Trees are adapted to withstand winds piling in off the Atlantic by anchoring their roots in a specific way, but this means they are ill-prepared when the wind switches direction and the trees are exposed square on.

All of Northumberland’s Forestry England forests remain closed whilst authorities work to make the areas safe to the public.

As the clean up operation continues, please take extreme care when out and about in Northumberland.

Photographs taken at Thrunton Wood in the aftermath of the storm by @adventure_cal.