infomatique

MILITARY ROAD PHOENIX PARK

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Unfortunately, there’s no centralised database that precisely tracks the number of trees falling over in storms throughout Ireland. Here’s why, and what we do know:

Challenges in Tracking Fallen Trees

No Central Reporting: There’s no requirement for landowners or park management to report fallen trees to a central authority unless they cause damage or block public access.

Varying Definitions: What constitutes a “fallen tree” can be subjective (uprooted vs. large branch down). This makes consistent data collection difficult.
Data Focus: Government forestry agencies tend to focus on windfall (trees blown over) in commercial forests for economic reasons, not on individual trees in every storm.

What We Do Know

Storms and Tree Loss: Ireland has definitely experienced severe storms in recent years, logically leading to increased tree fall.
Anecdotal Evidence: News sources like those below provide a sense of the issue:
One per cent of ALL the trees in Ireland’s forests fell down in the storms – The Journal: https://www.thejournal.ie/trees-felled-storms-1345314-Mar2014/

Three Dark Hedges Beech Trees lost in Storm Isha – Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust CCGHT: https://ccght.org/three-dark-hedges-beech-trees-lost-in-storm-isha/

Climate Change Potential: It’s plausible that climate change could lead to more frequent and intense storms, increasing the risk of tree falls in the long term.

Policies on Fallen Trees (Public Parks)

This varies greatly depending on the specific park and local council. Factors influencing what’s done with fallen trees include:

Safety: Immediate removal is likely if the tree poses a danger to people or property.
Ecological Value: In some cases, leaving fallen trees provides habitat for insects and other wildlife, contributing to park biodiversity.
Public Access: Trees blocking paths would usually be cleared quickly.
Aesthetics: In highly manicured parks, fallen trees might be removed.

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