Trees toppled by Storm Eunice in Portsmouth will be replaced, says city council

TREES destroyed in storms last week will be replaced 'wherever possible', Portsmouth City Council has said.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Cabinet member for climate change Kimberly Barrett said it was 'sad' to see so many come down but added that it was an 'opportunity' to scale up planting efforts in some of the 39 affected areas.

Read More
Cosham baby hospitalised over recalled Abbott formula bacteria fears
A tree blown down on Southsea Common during Storm Eunice 
Picture: Alex ShuteA tree blown down on Southsea Common during Storm Eunice 
Picture: Alex Shute
A tree blown down on Southsea Common during Storm Eunice Picture: Alex Shute
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘We will replant trees we've lost wherever possible, either directly replacing the lost trees of increasing numbers of trees at particular sites,' she said. 'Over the next few days we will be assessing each one to work out what we can do.

‘We are constantly looking for ways to increase planting because these schemes are so beneficial, not just by absorbing carbon dioxide and air pollution but also in terms of visual appearance and the positive mental impact that can have.’

She said replacements would be planted later in the year with the current planting season nearing its end and that the new trees would be more established rather than younger whips.

'It's sad to have lost some of these older trees but it can be a blessing in disguise in many cases,' Cllr Barrett added. 'Although they may appear healthy, many of them are older or diseased and reaching the end of their life and clearing them will mean we have space to increase planting in many cases.'

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On top of the damaged trees, the storm saw more than a dozen fences and walls destroyed as well as seven lampposts and ten incidents of roof damage.

Colas business manager Ray Muscat said the storm damage and been 'widespread and, in some cases, extensive'.

‘This is one of the worst storms we have experienced since the [city council] contract began in 2004,' he said.