'Twas on this day in 1987 that the 'hurricane' that never was roared through southern England and played skittles with 15 million trees.
I felt rather cheated because I slept through it all. The first I remember of this great event was being awoken by my little brother, who cycled the 5 miles to Baldwins Nursery near Liss, saying that there was a tree down and he could not get through and was I able to run him in, otherwise he would be late.
Indeed, trying to navigate the journey was a great fun. We took a detour of nearly ten miles just to get on to the road through Greatham but to no avail. Of course, this was nothing ordinary and the event would quite literally change the landscape.
So, twenty years later, despite losing some of our great trees, is there an indelible legacy or has Mother nature repaired the damage?
It was, for a sure, a great tragedy. Losing the majority of trees, especially the historical ones such as in Seven Oaks and Kew Gardens.
However, to me, the storm was of huge benefit to the countryside and refreshed our woodlands.
The storm caused the most important forestry 're-thinks' that has ever been undertaken and provided park keepers, gardeners and public spaces the opportunity to introduce new and exciting trees.
The Great Storm 1906.
Ironically, in 1906, one of my ancestors, Charles Voice, was killed when he sheltered under trees along the Woodbridge Road, Guildford.
"The areas worst hit appear to have been Charlotteville and along Woodbridge Road. It was here that the storm claimed the lives of 23-year-old domestic servant Ruth Blunden, and 14-year-old schoolboy Charles Voice."
Do you have any memories, or photos of the damage caused by the storm of 1987?
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