Storm Eowyn and it’s aftermath

It was quite a blow last Friday- Mike and I found it very stressful being in the house all day with the wind howling and the trees in all directions waving madly like grasses. Mike eventually went down the lawn but didn’t get very far. He could see damage and fallen trees.

Next morning we saw it all, first surprised to find Glenarn Road blocked just outside our gate with a huge oak from our neighbours and the wonderful Magnolia rostrata now a shadow of its former self as a 25 m spruce has fallen in to us from Invergare, stripped 4 major branches and squashed at least 4 rhododendrons beneath the trunk. We have just spent the last 2 afternoons clearing and there’s an amazing pile of branches! The rhododendrons are looking very battered and one has been broken off just above its root.

There’s lots of other damage, 2 more trees from neighbours landing on us, and the massive Eucryphia Nymansay loosing a tree-sized branch in the glen. I guess we’ve got 2 months to sort things out before we open again but it’s hard physical work for 2 oldies! The good news is that the Council arrived Sunday lunchtime and cut the oak, pushing it to the side of our road ( for our neighbours to remove) and giving us back our freedom.