Lord Chelwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are their latest estimates of the number of trees: (a) in total, and (b) by counties and metropolitan boroughs blown down in the October hurricane, or so badly damaged or leaning that they should be felled; and by what methods the estimates were made.
The Earl of CaithnessIt is estimated that in total 15 million trees were blown down outside urban areas. This was based on a sample of sites derived from those studied in the Forestry Commission's 1980 Census of Woodlands. Air photographs and ground surveys were used in combination to produce estimates of the area on which trees had been blown down. These estimates were multiplied by figures already available for the volume of timber per hectare; and the resulting figure for the volume of timber blown down was then divided by standard figures for volume per tree to produce an estimate of the number of trees blown down. It has not been possible to produce estimates of the number of trees in woodlands which are badly damaged or leaning.
Estimates of the number of trees blown down in individual counties are subject to greater uncertainty. The table below therefore gives the estimated volume of timber in the form of woodland trees blown down in the affected counties.
The Department of Environment is awaiting a report of a sample survey of non-woodland trees, using air photographs, which will include estimates by county of the number of such trees blown down and damaged. Comprehensive information is not available about the number of trees blown down or damaged in urban areas.