On the night of Friday 26th-Saturday 27th November 2021, a major storm, called Storm Arwen by meteorologists, hit the east coast of Scotland with very strong winds of up to 90 mph. Unusually, the wind direction came from the northeast (most of the country’s stormy weather comes from the southwest) and this resulted in many trees being blown down in exposed areas.
Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) blown down over a stack of cut logs by Storm Arwen on the night of 26th November 2021, Findhorn Hinterland.
Here at the Findhorn Hinterland over 100 large trees were uprooted and blown over, with most of those being in the northeast corner of the pine plantation, closest to the wind turbines. They were the trees that were most exposed to the direction the wind came from, and because they were tall and straight and had grown close to each other they were quite vulnerable to exceptionally strong winds like this. A few trees even got snapped off in the middle of their trunks by the sheer force of the gales they were subjected to.
Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) blown down, & one pine snapped in half, by Storm Arwen on the night of 26th November 2021, Findhorn Hinterland.
While the first thought that many people may have had is that this was a ‘disaster’ and very bad for the woodland, it is in fact a relatively common occurrence that brings its own benefits for the ecosystem. It is an example of what is known in ecological terms as ‘natural disturbance’, and is one of several irregular events that create change in the ecosystem. Other examples include naturally-occurring forest fires, occasional outbreaks of insect infestations and unusually cold winter conditions. All of these have similar effects in that they disturb the status quo in the ecosystem, and create heterogeneity, or variation, where before there may have been uniformity.
Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) blown down by Storm Arwen on the night of 26th November 2021, Findhorn Hinterland.
With Storm Arwen, while it’s obviously sad to see the trees that have been blown down, one immediate result of that is the creation of light gaps in the otherwise relatively dense and evenly shaded areas under the pines in the woodland. These light gaps provide the ideal opportunity for pioneer species which need lots of light to grow, and they quickly become established after such an event. In 2004 an even stronger storm blew down a much larger area of the pine woodland on the Hinterland, which we now call the Fallen Acres. In the following two years foxgloves blossomed in profusion there, and they were followed by prolific regeneration of silver birches. In fact those were so dense that we have done regular work since then to thin them out, and the area is now a beautiful young birch woodland.
Alan with some of the Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) blown down by Storm Arwen on the night of 26th November 2021, Findhorn Hinterland.
Other results of this natural disturbance include the creation of micro-habitats that can be utilised by small mammals, various invertebrates etc. A good example are the upturned root plates of the fallen trees and the bare soil that is exposed underneath them. Saprotrophic fungi of course have a literal field day, as they have a lot of newly-dead wood to feed on and decompose, releasing the nutrients stored there and making them available for other organisms in the soil.
For me, it’s part of the rewilding of both the land and ourselves to see the positive side of an event like Storm Arwen, and to recognise the benefits it can bring to many parts of our local ecosystem.
Alan Watson Featherstone
Upturned root plate of a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) blown down by Storm Arwen, showing the sandy nature of the soil, Findhorn Hinterland.
FHT Chair’s Roundup – November 2021 to March 2022
Although dealing with storm damage, finishing the building of the Conservation Hub and enabling the production of wood for the new sanctuary have dominated the Trust’s work this quarter, there have also been a whole host of noteworthy activities that have been going on in parallel. To tell you the truth the organisation has been buzzing with positive activity and events these past months!
For example this year’s Christmas tree event was able to be held this year at the Woodland Shelter in a much more normal way with a fire, festive nibbles, drinks, a few crafts and a social time as individuals and families came from far and wide to select their own special tree. Over £1000 was generated through this very popular event – a big thank you to all that helped to make it such a success particularly Judith Berry, Judith Bone and our land manager Kajedo.
The Woodland Shelter was also the location for a number of other gatherings notably a little Christmas Gathering put on by Sabine to once more get people out and experience the beauty of this convivial outdoor and social setting.
A couple of funerals for people in the local area also took place at our Wilkies Wood Green Burial Ground. This allowed the new green burial team comprising Kajedo and Jamie who organise the physical burial and Laura and Juanna who coordinate the burial logistics to get a bit more practice in their new found roles with Will Russell who remains as our green burial consultant continuing to give support in the background. It is a joy to know that such a strong team now holds this important aspect of the Trust’s work. Thanks go to those that have been willing to step up to this challenge and Will who has gracefully orchestrated this essential transition that now ensures continuity and succession.
Bees are quiet during the winter but our beekeepers have been kept busy. Reroofing the bee shed during an unusual snowstorm was more akin to working in the arctic – have a look at the snapshot video of Martin and Luis carrying on regardless in a blizzard. The roof had been blown off twice by the unprecedented storms that we have had this winter.
The trust also felt very supported by the New Findhorn Directions team that, amongst other things, run the Findhorn Bay Holiday Park. They dismantled the old toilet blocks for holiday makers and offered the FHT materials that have been so useful in a whole host of ways – hard plastic toilet cubical sheets that make excellent roofing material for timber stores or temporary shelters, plumbing material that saved us hundreds of pounds building the Hub, metal profiled roofing material that is essential for covering the sanctuary wood and will be used in construction in the future, the plastic water tank that is now storing roof water from the Outdoor Learning Space in the Woodland Garden, the metal water tank base that is providing a perfect rain shelter whilst we do our wood milling work… Thanks goes in particular to these unsung heroes- to Kat their manager, Adrian in accounts and to Gus who does so much essential work on the ground and who was so helpful when it came to connecting the Hub up to the Park water system. A huge thank you is in order for this much appreciated community spirited help.
Our monthly work parties have been able to happen again. These have been very well attended and in these past few months, have focussed on helping with the backlog of tasks needed to happen around the Woodland Garden. Draeyk who now focalises this aspect of the Trust has done so much to bring more life into the garden with regular daily volunteers and lining up the activities for these bigger work events. It has been particularly exciting to see the new greenhouse donated by Carl and Jenni-Linn start to take shape with some expertise provided by local avid gardeners Hugh Andrews and Howard.
Last but not least there is the work that Paulo Bessa, one of our trustees and amongst other things a passionate bird watcher, and John Willoner have been doing caring for our bird boxes. We have about 20 of them scattered in our woodland and they need annual cleaning and a little TLC to encourage our many feathered friends to make our land their home.
I trust the above gives you some idea of the network of people that give freely of their time and skills to help with the dynamic work of the trust and the work of caring for this land that we so value.
Blessings,
Jonathan Caddy
FHT Chair
March 2022