Tree Emergencies and Management of Trees Through Storms

Here in Scotland, we are used to dealing with all weathers including high winds and storms. Scientists and meteorologists have long been warning that climate change is impacting our weather around the world and that more frequent and intense weather extremes are becoming the norm here in Scotland and across the rest of the UK.

Across the UK, we expect to see:

• Warmer and wetter winters

• Hotter and drier summers

• More frequent and intense weather extremes

We know that increased heat and drought, increased rainfall and flooding and more intense storms are causing devastating impacts to our woodlands across Great Britain. In 2021, around eight million trees in Scotland were damaged or affected by Storm Arwen, forestry chiefs estimate. link

The 4,000 hectares, equivalent to around eight million trees, this also includes many still standing trees which sit next to windblown areas. Unfortunately, these trees will need to be felled because they are now more vulnerable as their root systems have been weakened.

Environment Minister Mairi McAllan said: “Storm Arwen provided a salutary lesson of the power of nature and the challenge of climate change. Our people suffered and so too did our natural environment.

“The impact is evident in the distressing images of flattened forests and woodlands which will take decades, if not centuries, to recover from. Their loss reminds us of the significant role trees play in our lives, communities, economy and wellbeing.

Climate change will make these conditions more likely. In the future, we will still see a lot of the weather we experience today. The difference, though, is that the intensity of some weather types will change.

Storms can affect our trees in many ways. The effect is influenced by lots of factors including the wind direction and speed, rain duration and intensity, location, health and age.

Trees are great at adapting to a change in conditions but this is typically a slow process that happens over time. Trees simply can’t adapt to a single and intense change in weather due to a storm.

Trees are susceptible to storm damage when the force of the wind exceeds the tree’s natural structural strength. This type of storm damage is clearly very obvious as you will see large parts of a trees branches snapped or in the worst cases the whole tree uprooted.

Not all damage is visible, storm conditions might cause problems which aren’t immediately detected from the eye. Limbs and stems can have fractures while remaining intact. Trees might also be uprooted partially but don’t fall over. Quite common following storms are trees with broken branches that haven’t fallen but are hung up in the tree. These are clearly dangerous as they could fall at any time.

If a storm involves lightning, you might notice large wounds in the tree’s bark. Lightning strikes can also result in the tree’s vitality to die meaning it can’t produce leaves. A tree without leaves in it’s natural form is a thing of beauty but there is not much that can be done to save the tree.

Luckily, it is rare to see such major storm damage and proactive, expert tree management means you can reduce the risks.

Proactive tree work with The Glasgow Tree Surgeon is cost-effective since you can protect your trees with the highest risk and greatest value. Tree work can be scheduled and planned and will avoid those emergency call-outs (and their cost) if there is storm damage.

Unfortunately, with climate change, we are likely to see lots more unsettled and stormy weather. If we want trees to survive well, we need to make sure they’re inspected frequently and well managed.

It’s a good idea to seek comprehensive tree assessments with experienced tree surgeons and tree consultants. Here at The Glasgow Tree Surgeon we offer both free quotes and tree inspections and reports. Through these proactive measures will be able to advise tree owners and help them keep their trees safe as well as healthy.

According to statistics by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there are around 5 or 6 people killed each year in the UK due to falling branches or trees. Around 3 of these occur in a public space.

Of course, this makes the risk of being killed or struck by a tree extremely low; these numbers mean the risk is about 1 in 10 million. Despite the low level of risk, we need to consider how the public perceive the level of risk, especially if there has been a recent incident. Thus, tree owners should take great care in ensuring they look after their trees.

About The Glasgow Tree Surgeon - Arborist Glasgow

The Glasgow Tree Surgeon is an arboricultural company with over 12 years of experience in the professional tree care industry. We pride ourselves on high quality, professional services from a friendly team of experienced staff focused on efficiency, good tree care standards and health & safety. Our goal is to get your job done with the use of safe, efficient and affordable tree care.

We are an innovative company using experienced and accredited tree surgeons to ensure we deliver expert service no matter how big or small the project.

At The Glasgow Tree Surgeon, we provide a full consultancy service available from contact to completion, providing various options to meet the specific needs of our clients. We offer comprehensive method statements, site-specific risk assessment, complying with relevant legislation and regulations specific to our industry.

Fully Insured

We are fully insured, up to £5 Million for public liability. All insurance and training certificates can be provided if required. If you are looking for quotes from a range of tree surgeons, we would strongly advise that you ensure they are fully insured. Using uninsured arborists can result in huge costs should something go wrong. Don't take the risk, ensure that you only work with fully insured tree surgeons, such as The Glasgow Tree Surgeon.

We only use well-equipped vehicles and modern plant equipment for safety and efficiency in every job meeting current PUWER and LOLER regulations.

We look forward to hearing from you and discussing your requirements, at The Glasgow Tree Surgeon we offer a range of affordable options to ensure that you get the best value on the market and always work within your budget.