Killerton has been in eye of the storm before

THE winter storms that battered the country in 2014 caused the greatest loss of trees in a generation in some areas – with the Killerton estate in Devon among the worst affected.

Old oak, ash and beech trees were lost in woods, while specimen trees in parks and gardens were damaged when a dozen storms swept through the UK from December to February, the Trust said at the time.

Killerton Estate in Devon suffered some of the biggest losses, with more than 500 trees blown over, including 20 that were significant to the estate’s landscaping.

Head gardener Jonathon Jones said in 2014 that the estate was “really badly hammered” in 1990, losing 200 trees, and after this they had decided to take down very many old trees nearing the end of their lifespan.

He said: “The National Trust is not able to do that because they are under so much public pressure to preserve trees. It is always very sad to see trees go because we are so attached to them but we have got to see it as a fantastic opportunity to plant new things.”

The trust’s nature and wildlife specialist Matthew Oates said at the time of the 2014 storms there was great sadness at losing old, sentinel trees which he described as “nature’s cathedrals.” He went on: “People love and need trees, and the loss of specimen trees in gardens and parks, and of ancient beeches and oaks in the woods, hurts us all and damages much wildlife. We value and venerate these old sentinels and need to become increasingly aware of the power of the weather.”

Now the Trust is predicting further damage to its estates – and trying to do something to protect precious buildings and landscapes.

Richard Austin > Storm damage from 2014 in the grounds of Killerton House, Devon