Storm Ciarán: 'We're still tidying up a year on'

Steve Byrne, GSPCA manager, said the centre suffered thousands of pounds worth of damage in the storm

The effects of Storm Ciarán are still being felt across Guernsey one year on.

Charities and nature organisations have been reflecting on the "huge financial impact" of repairing buildings and clearing felled trees.

The Nature Commission said it was looking forward to new projects coming to fruition after funding was allocated to aid recovery.

But the GSPCA said it was still rebuilding structures damaged by the weather.

'Fantastic boost'

Angela Salmon of The Nature Commission said funding was awarded to three regeneration projects

The Nature Commission launched the Storm Ciarán Recovery Fund last November to restore publicly accessible natural areas to their previous state.

Angela Salmon, the Commission's Head of Operations and Education, said the projects it had sponsored would be coming to fruition in the next few months.

£15,000 was provided by the States of Guernsey and £35,000 by an anonymous corporate donor.

The funding was awarded to St Saviour's Reservoir Millennium Walk, Bluebell Woods and The National Trust of Guernsey.

"It happened, we came together, and it was fantastic to get this boost to tidy up after the devastation," said Ms Salmon.

'Growing well'

Several trees blew down in the Guet during the storm

Andy McCutcheon, principal environment services officer for the states, said several trees on publicly owned land had blown down during the storm, some blocking roads or access to properties.

"It was a very full-on experience for the team to deal with," he said.

But, he said, signs of recovery can be seen at the Guet with gorse, bramble and foxgloves growing, as well as new oak and pine trees.

Influx of animals

Barnacle Bill was rescued near Chouet Bay days after the storm and has been cared for at the GSPCA since

Steve Byrne, manager at the GSPCA, said the damage suffered to its buildings, aviaries, fences and a wishing well was huge.

"We're still tidying up the mess a year on, while preparing for this year's storms," he said.

He estimated the cost of the destruction to be as much as £40,000.

The GSPCA also received an influx of injured animals after the storm, including loggerhead turtle Barnacle Bill, who is still living at the shelter due to issues with paperwork.