A clear up operation in Cumbria is almost complete following the January storms that brought down half a million trees in the county in just 10 minutes.
Forestry partnership Cumbria Woodlands and the Forestry Commission have worked flat out to clear public rights of way in time for the start of the walking season.
Mark Hartnett, forester operations for the Forestry Commission, said: “We lost a years cut for our district in one night. We have marketed the timber in the best way we could – some has gone to sawmills, some to pallet manufacturers and some to the chip wood market.
“At the moment we are recouping more than it is costing to deal with the timber, but the balance could change as we will have to get expensive specialist machinery in for some of the sites.”
The partnership has warned that climate changes could mean severe wind damage becoming a regular occurrence.
Edward Mills, director of Cumbria Woodlands, said: “Tree species that we commonly see in our region’s woodlands may no longer be appropriate to plant, and our woodland designs and planting techniques will have to change dramatically to help our region’s tree stocks flourish.”
