Storm Goretti Woodland Restoration Donation
The Appeal
In January 2026, Storm Goretti struck with devastating force, felling around 500 trees across Tresco and leaving lasting damage to our cherished woodlands.
In the days that followed, our inbox and phone lines were filled with one recurring question: “How can we help?” The Woodland Restoration Appeal is our answer - shaped by your generosity and supporting the work to restore and replant for the future.
Lifelong residents called it the worst storm they have ever known - extraordinary not only for its ferocity, but for the suddenness and direction of its strike. Across the island, the damage from Storm Goretti was profound.
From the Abbey Drive to Borough, from the Abbey Garden to the north end, around 500 trees were felled. The shelter belt along Abbey Drive bore the brunt of the storm, sacrificing much to shield the Abbey Garden from even greater destruction. While much of our coastline and large parts of the Garden stood resilient, our woodlands suffered an immense and visible loss.
In the storm’s aftermath, our island teams - strengthened by friends who travelled from far and wide - have been working tirelessly. Roads cleared. Access routes reopened. Vital services restored. Their response was immediate and extraordinary - but the work has only just begun.
Only after weeks of careful assessment have we fully understood the scale of what lies ahead. We have worked closely with our insurers to understand the extent of our cover following the storm. While our island properties are fully insured, wind damage to trees is generally considered an act of nature and our cover in this area is therefore extremely limited.
Early clearance and safeguarding work indicates that the cost of restoring our woodlands is likely to exceed £250,000 - far beyond the level of cover available.
How You Can Help
In the days following the storm, we were deeply moved by the outpouring of support - calls, letters and messages from across the country. So many of you asked not only how we were doing, but also how you could help.
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 - and we'd love you to be involved...
For generations, these woodlands have held life’s most precious moments: first faltering steps, family celebrations, and places of quiet reflection. They are not simply trees. They are memory, shelter, habitat, and heritage.
Today, as we undertake the long work of restoration, we are proud to launch our Woodland Restoration Appeal.
This loss, while painful, gives us an opportunity to think boldly. To replant thoughtfully. To strengthen biodiversity. To design shelterbelts for a changing climate. To regenerate not just what was lost, but what could be.
Your donation will help us:
- Clear and make safe the affected areas
- Restore access across the island
- Replant and regenerate our woodlands
- Build resilience for future generations
Ours may have been the first part of England touched by Storm Goretti. With your support, we can ensure we are also the first to turn recovery into renewal.
Click below to support the Appeal with an online contribution.
If you'd rather, contributions can also be made by BACS payment to:
Tresco Island Woodland Restoration | Bank: C Hoare & Co | Account Number: 00357260 | Sort Code: 15-99-00
(Please note: these are different to our usual bank details. If making a donation by BACS, please email contactus@tresco.co.uk so we can acknowledge your donation)
Recognising You
Many kind supporters have asked whether it might be possible to place commemorative plaques on newly planted trees. We fully appreciate this wish to create a lasting, personal connection with the woodland.
However, after careful consideration, we have decided not to place individual plaques on trees. We hope you understand our reasons.
Our foremost responsibility is to care for the island landscape sensitively. Attaching plaques to large numbers of trees would, over time, change the natural character of these special places and could affect the health and growth of the young woodland we are working so carefully to restore.
There is also a practical consideration. Trees planted today will take many years – a decade or more – before they are mature enough to bear a plaque. We would like to recognise your generosity far sooner than that.
Instead, we are exploring a way to honour all those who support the Woodland Restoration Appeal together, in a form that is lasting, meaningful, and in keeping with the spirit of the island. While we do not yet know exactly what this will be, we want to reassure you that every gift will be recognised in a public and meaningful way.
Thank you for helping us restore and regenerate these precious woodlands for generations to come.
