Storm damage sees forest trails closed again

Forestry England say it may be a few days before paths and trails reopen at Kielder Forest

Trails which were closed for up to three years after Storm Arwen in 2021 are inaccessible to the public again following Storm Éowyn.

Forestry England has temporarily shut all footpaths and mountain bike routes in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, after Friday's strong winds.

More than 150 trees are blocking the Lakeside way, a 26 mile (42km) path which circles Kielder Reservoir.

Forestry England recreation manager Alex MacLennan said: "Our advice is to stay away until our crews can get in there and get all the trees cleared."

The Lonesome Pine trail in Kielder Forest is closed, just weeks after it reopened

"Some of the trees down were quite problematic, one was tangled up with power lines but that's been dealt with now," Mr MacLennan said.

"Our paths and trails will be closed probably until next weekend and will reopen one by one, once we make sure they're safe," he added.

People visiting other forests in Northumberland are being asked to report fallen trees in a dangerous position

Approximately one million trees fell in Northumberland during the severe winds of Storm Arwen on 26 November 2021.

Hundreds of footpaths and trails were damaged and blocked, and the Lonesome Pine Mountain bike trail at Kielder Forest only reopened three years later in December.

But despite Storm Éowyn bringing 96mph (154 km/h) gusts to places like Brizlee Wood in Northumberland, the damage has not been as severe.

"Arwen had already brought a lot of trees down," Mr MacLennan said, adding: "This is not nearly on the same scale."

It is estimated up to one million trees fell in Northumberland during Storm Arwen

Other Forestry England sites in Northumberland remain open but visitors are urged to "use caution".

"Not only have some trees fallen down but others may be lodged up against others and could fall and some power lines haven't been checked yet," Mr MacLennan said.

Thrunton Wood, which was badly hit during Storm Arwen, has seen more damage during Storm Éowyn

Mr MacLennan said any decision to close or restrict sites was only made "to keep people safe".

"We never want to shut access to the countryside, it's something we do not like doing but it's so important that we don't have a tragic situation which could have been avoided," he added.