Storm Goretti
On Thursday 8th January, Storm Goretti hit our island with extreme force
Whilst no one was hurt, so many beautiful Tresco trees are down and several cottages have been damaged. Our team are working tirelessly to clear the roads of trees and debris and restore our island back to its former glory. Much of Tresco will be back to normal soon, but the landscape across particular parts of the island has certainly changed forever.
Thank you – truly – for the many calls, emails, and messages of concern over the storm period and since. Your kindness has been felt across the island.
As has been widely reported, Storm Goretti announced herself with unmistakable force as she made her first landfall in Britain here on Scilly. Winds of 99mph were recorded at St Mary’s Airport, and on islands with little land to blunt such power, the impact was severe. Many have likened the storm to the hurricane of 1987. Others, who have lived here all their lives, have said it was the worst they have ever known – remarkable not only for its ferocity, but for the speed and direction with which it struck. Most importantly, our island community – along with the few guests and many contractors who were with us at the time – remained safe throughout.
In the midst of the storm, the strength of our community spirit shone through, and it was humbling to witness. There has, of course, been damage. Roofs, fences and windows have taken a battering. But by far the greatest loss has been the trees felled across the island, from the Abbey Drive to Borough, from the Abbey Garden to the north end.
The shelter belt along the Abbey Drive took the full force of the storm and, in its many losses, helped protect the Abbey Garden from far worse damage. Much of the island stood the test, from our beaches to large parts of the Abbey Garden. We are island folk. This may be the fiercest storm to strike these shores in decades, but we are no strangers to storms. We have faced them before, and we will face this one too.
Amid the sadness, there is also purpose. The loss of so many trees gives us the chance to think boldly: to replant with care, to plan for sustainability, to create the shelterbelts of the future with the environment firmly in mind. This is an opportunity to regenerate – not just for today, but for generations to come.
We are fortunate beyond measure to have such dedicated teams hard at work, tirelessly clearing access routes, repairing damage, and reinstating vital services. From Jamie and Steve in the woodlands and Andrew and the Abbey gardeners, to our Services and Cottages teams and external contractors, there is a shared sense of purpose across the island as we work to ensure we are ready to welcome our guests again in just a couple of short months.
As we all put our shoulders to the wheel, we want to thank you for every message of support and for the generous offers of donations and help. We are considering the best way to accept this kindness and will share more details soon. For now, we look ahead – to calmer days, to sunshine, to an island once again filled with life and laughter. Ours may have been the first part of England touched by Storm Goretti, but we hope it will be among the first to recover.
