Evening Meeting

In January, Storm Goretti felled more than 1,000 trees across the island; Andy will explain what was lost, what’s recoverable, and how we rebuild a more resilient canopy—at home, in our parishes and in public spaces.

He’ll also outline the island‑wide replanting effort.

Nathan Silk

Talk Report

Storm Goretti and Guernsey’s Canopy: Rebuilding for the Future

At our recent meeting, the Rotary Club of Guernsey welcomed Andy McCutcheon, Technical Officer at Guernsey Trees for Life, for a compelling talk on “Storm Goretti – its impact on Guernsey’s trees now and in the future.” Andy set the scene with an overview of January’s storm and its effect on our island’s treescape—highlighting widespread loss of mature specimens across the Island. Assessments estimate that well over a thousand trees were lost in Guernsey alone, underscoring the scale of recovery required.

Looking ahead, Andy outlined steps Guernsey Trees for Life to restore a more resilient canopy: right tree, right place; diversifying species; and prioritising aftercare during the first 3–5 years so new plantings establish root strength against future storms. He also shared how the community can help through hands-on planting days, landowner partnerships and donations to the Storm Goretti Tree Appeal | Nature Opportunities for Businesses.

Nathan Silk

Photos by Mariechen Faurie