Research
The Great Storm of October 1987
Research Status:current
Relative amounts of damage to woodlands in the counties of south-east England
The storm that swept through the south-eastern corner of the British Isles during the early hours of 16th October was a memorable event that caused significant damage. The winds were unusually strong and the extent and severity of damage to woodlands and trees was greater than that typically caused by wind in the south of England.
An early survey carried-out at 45 sites in 15 locations during summer 1988 found that the number of tree seedlings present varied with site and species: all sites with ash seedlings present were adequately stocked but only a quarter of sites had large numbers of beech and oak seedlings. The results of the survey implied that natural regeneration would be successful at these sites.
A follow-up survey was made in 2002 to see how the woodlands had developed.
Most of the sites revisited had regenerated successfully, although the species present had changed. Ash remained abundant at sites where it was the dominant species in 1988, but birch had usually become dominant on sites where oak and beech had originally been abundant. This suggests that whilst natural regeneration can successfully recreate a woodland the species that arise may not always be those initially present.
For more details see:
Harmer, R., Tucker, N. and Nickerson, R. (2004). Natural regeneration in storm damaged woods – 1987 storm sites revisited (PDF-221K). Quarterly Journal of Forestry, 98, 183-190.
The most recent studies have been carried-out to investigate whether the woodlands that have developed following the damage and clearance of planted conifer woodlands can help to improve guidance on the restoration of plantations on ancient woodland sites which are commonly known as PAWS. The current advice recommends that woodland cover should be maintained and conifers removed gradually from PAWS.
This contrasts dramatically with the processes caused by the storm. Conifer tree cover was destroyed overnight in a single catastrophic event with further disturbance to the sites caused by the clearance of fallen trees and debris.
Surveys were made in 2006 of broadleaved woodlands that had regenerated naturally to replace storm damaged conifer plantations. The trees, shrubs and ground flora vegetation were observed to see if the plants present were typical of the native woodlands that would naturally occur on the sites.
Brief descriptions of some of the sites visited are given below (select from list or click on sites marked on map).
The sites were dominated by birch but the overall range of species present was typical of the broadleaved woodlands that would naturally occur. For more details see:
Harmer, R. and Morgan, G. (2009). Storm damage and the conversion of conifer plantations to native broadleaved woodland. Forest Ecology and Management, 258, 879-886.
Regeneration following Great Storm of October 1987
Several native species, including oak, have been planted to increase the variety of trees present.
Regeneration following Great Storm of October 1987
Mosses cover a significant part of the ground at this site.
Regeneration following Great Storm of October 1987
Decaying stumps of larch are still evident.
Regeneration following Great Storm of October 1987
Rhododendron is a significant part of the shrub layer at this site.
Regeneration following Great Storm of October 1987
Large coppice stools such as this chestnut are frequently found in these storm damaged woods
Regeneration following Great Storm of October 1987
A few of the original conifers remain within this woodland which also contains occasional hornbeam, oak and aspen.
Regeneration following Great Storm of October 1987
This site had more than 20 species in the ground flora including the pendulous sedge visible in this picture.
Regeneration following Great Storm of October 1987
Typical of these naturally regenerated sites this young woodland dominated by birch. There is a sparse ground flora containing bramble and at this site bluebells can be seen emerging.
Regeneration following Great Storm of October 1987
Old coppice stools of alder are present beside the stream that runs through this wood.
Regeneration following Great Storm of October 1987
Competition between trees has begun to cause death of small trees in this dense stand of birch.
Regeneration following Great Storm of October 1987
Small patch of aspen amongst a dense stand of birch.
Wind damage is a natural mechanism which can have important consequences for the ecology of woodlands. For example it can:
Woodlands and trees are regularly damaged by wind, but its effects are often localised with few trees suffering badly. The damage frequently goes unnoticed and whilst it is important for woodland regeneration and biodiversity it has been studied relatively rarely in Britain.
The damage caused by the October 1987 storm was widespread, very obvious and initiated a flurry of interest amongst ecologists with more than 20 studies being established in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Early results from many of these were published (see below) in the mid-1990s and subsequently there have been several reports from longer-term studies, a list of selected publications is available.
Studies carried out by Forest Research have concentrated on the natural regeneration of trees within damaged woodlands.
Anon. (1988). The effects of the Great Storm. Report of a Technical Co-ordination Committee and the Government’s response. HMSO, London. 45p.
Grayson, A. J. (1989). The 1987 Storm: Impacts and Responses. Forestry Commission Bulletin 87, HMSO, London, UK, 46p.
Harmer, R. (2002). Restocking after storm damage from an English perspective. In: A. Brunner (ed) Restocking of storm-felled forests: new approaches. Proceedings of an international workshop in Denmark, March 2001. Danish Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning, Report No. 12, Hørsholm, Denmark, 47-51.
Harmer, R. and Morgan, G. (2009). Storm damage and the conversion of conifer plantations to native broadleaved woodland. Forest Ecology and Management, 258, 879-886.
Harmer, R., Tucker, N. and Nickerson, R. (2004). Natural regeneration in storm damaged woods – 1987 storm sites revisited (PDF-221K). Quarterly Journal of Forestry, 98, 183-190.
Kirby, K. J. and Buckley, G. P. (eds) (1994). Ecological responses to the 1987 Great storm in the woods of south-east England. English Nature Science No. 23, English Nature, Peterborough, UK, 170p.
Mountford, E. P. (2002). Storm-damage and natural regeneration in Shellem Wood, an ancient semi-natural beechwood in south-east England. Quarterly Journal of Forestry, 96, 195-204.
Mountford, E. P. and Peterken, G. F. (2000). Natural developments at Scords Wood, Toy’s Hill, Kent, since the Great storm of October 1987. English Nature Research Reports No. 346, 27p.
Mountford, E. P. and Peterken, G. F. (2001). Long-term changes in an area of The Mens, a minimum intervention woodland damaged by the Great Storm of 1987. English Nature Research Report No. 435.
Spencer, J. W. and Feest, A. (eds) (1994). The rehabilitation of storm-damaged woods. Bristol University Department for Continuing Education, Bristol, UK, 92p.
Whitbread, T. (1991a). When the wind blew, Royal Society for Nature Conservation, Lincoln, UK. 61p.
Whitbread, A. M. (1991b). Research on the ecological effects on woodland of the 1987 storm. Research and Survey in Nature Conservation No. 40, Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough, UK, 102p.
Whitbread, A. M. (1994). Surveys of storm-damaged woods set up in 1987-88. In: K. J. Kirby and G. P. Buckley (eds) Ecological responses to the 1987 Great Storm in the woods of south-east England. English Nature Science 23, English Nature, Peterborough, UK, 24-31.