Storm Isha in recent days has thrown Ireland into turmoil. With winds of unprecedented strength and heavy downpours, the Emerald Isle suffered significant human and material damage, even halting air traffic in places. The Dark Hedges site in Northern Ireland was not spared either: this tree avenue, made famous by the Game of Thrones series, also saw several of its trees collapse following the violence of the storm…
Every time there’s a storm, there’s concern in Northern Ireland. People are concerned not only for their homes and facilities, but also for the Dark Hedge site in Ballymoney (Co. Antrim).
Because this world-famous alley is under increasing threat. Its twisted trees, already sickly and too old, all seem to fall over with the storms.
The record speaks for itself: in 1775, when the driveway was built, the site boasted no fewer than 150 trees… Today, Dark Hedge has less than 80 trees… The fault lies in a lack of maintenance and diseased trees, whose roots can no longer cling deeply to the ground.
With the Isha storm, a new tree collapsed, blocking access to the rest of the driveway. Evacuation services are already hard at work cleaning up the site…
#TreeClub #darkhedges
Another one down? pic.twitter.com/XhveT8yuAN— JAC, Bumble & Harlow (@JulesAB1075) January 22, 2024
Local authorities have been looking for a solution to preserve the site for several years now… but the integrity of the trees is in question. In their current state, their longevity cannot be guaranteed in the long term.
Measures to prune and fell 6 trees have already been taken to prevent a domino effect… But time seems to be the site’s main enemy.
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