'Spooky' Tree Falls Victim To Weekend Storms

Sweet chestnut on Sutton Lane South brought down by high winds

Tree down on Sutton Lane South. Picture: Andy Murray

The storms that rocked London over the weekend claimed one quiet ancient tree in Chiswick.

What is believed to have been a sweet chestnut collapsed across Sutton Lane South near the junction with Falcon Close just opposite St Michael's Church.

The tree was thought by some local schoolchildren to be a bit 'spooky' so there will be relief in some quarters at least.

It is not thought that anyone was hurt or any significant damage was done when the tree fell.

The Reverend Martine Oborne said, "The tree fell during our Sunday morning service - just yards away from St Michael's Church in Elmwood Road. It was something of a miracle that no one was hurt, or worse. The tree was huge but has now been cut up and removed. I can't help being concerned that there are other trees in the area that are not firmly rooted - like this one - and which are potentially lethal. Surely this is something that the Council should be urgently reviewing?"

The high winds required a restriction of 50mph on local train services and a fallen tree blocked the line at Isleworth on Sunday (10 March).

More stormy weather is anticipated and Chiswick House Trust have announced that due to weather forecasts of high winds they were closing the estate this Tuesday morning (12 March) and will not be opening at their usual time of 7:00am. After assessing the risk they opened later in the day but warned that the grounds would open late again on Wednesday for similar reasons.

BBC Weather meteorologists said that Atlantic weather conditions were causing 'disturbances' across the UK with strong and bitterly cold winds.

Please send any pictures of storm related disruption to editor@chiswickw4.com.

The tree before its demise

March 12, 2019