An afternoon walk along the Cart revealed a massive amount of damage which must have been caused by the recent high winds. Dozens of trees have been brought down including three very prominent ones:

• the Monkeypuzzle which stood at the west end of the Bonnyholm Bridge
• the big (nearly dead) Beech which stood above the ramp down to the walkway under Howford Bridge (the top half evidently having toppled into the river is now lodged under the bridge)
• the southernmost of the three Beeches which stood in an isolated clump just north of the tower at Leverndale Hospital.

The woods are full of signs of spring with Snowdrops and Wild Garlic coming up everywhere. The thinning of the canopy which has resulted from the loss of so many trees may actually help these plants and others in the understorey. However I can't help feeling sad about the loss of these old friends.