Battening Down the Hatches

We are being told to take precautions as the worst storm for five years is heading our way overnight.  Winds up to 90 miles per hour and heavy rain will strike early in the morning.  I can recall the 1987 hurricane really well and the destruction in Eastern England. I would urge people with woodlands not to panic if hardwood trees come down.  We found in that great storm that if they can be left then regeneration will take place from the trunks and new trees will soon grow.  In the 1987 storm most of the conifers on the Suffolk coast were down but this was a positive thing for wildlife as the Forestry Commission redesigned the forest incorporating areas for Woodlarks and Nightjars and planted many more hard woods.

Forest damage in Suffolk in 1987

I hope the weather abates so I can get out to the coast and look for displaced seabirds. I am sure many may get blown into the Burry Inlet and who knows what might turn up?