Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Storms felled 30,000 acres of woodland
THE winter storms of 2021 damaged more than 30,000 acres of woodland across Britain, Forestry Commission figures show.
Its Forest Research agency found the majority of the damage was the result of Storm Arwen in late November 2021.
It brought down 21,698 acres of trees in Scotland, 8,164 acres in England and 193 acres in Wales.
Forestry Commission chairman Sir William Worsley called for landowners to plant tree species that can withstand extreme weather triggered by climate change.
He said: “The figures highlight the challenges we face in a changing climate.
“The woodlands of the future need to be planted differently if they are to survive and thrive.”