No Magnolia Trees Lost in Storm Goretti Across Great Gardens of Cornwall

Though thousands of trees were brought down across Cornwall during Storm Goretti, not a single magnolia tree has been lost across the Great Gardens of Cornwall network.

The 14 gardens that make up the Great Gardens of Cornwall have confirmed that, at last count, every magnolia across their estates remains standing following what is being described as one of the most destructive weather events to hit the county in recent decades.

📷Caerhays Castle and Magnolias - CREDIT: Caerhays Estate

Widespread Damage Across the County

Storm Goretti tore across the South West with sustained gale-force winds and gusts exceeding 100mph, along with torrential rain over a 48-hour period.

Across Cornwall, thousands of trees are reported to have fallen. Many more were so severely damaged that they have since been deliberately felled to ensure public safety. Roads were blocked, historic parkland altered and swathes of woodland left scarred.

Within the 14 gardens of the Great Gardens of Cornwall, which include sites such as the Eden Project at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, many acres experienced storm damage. Mature shelterbelts were breached, pathways obstructed and long-established trees lost.

Clearance and restoration efforts have been described as phenomenal, and the majority of the gardens are now open as usual to welcome visitors for the Cornish spring.

📷Hydrangeas at Trebah - CREDIT: Trebah Garden

Not One Magnolia Lost

Amid the devastation, one remarkable fact stands out. Not a single magnolia tree was felled.

The network is home to one of the most important magnolia collections in Europe at Caerhays Castle & Gardens, part of the historic Caerhays Estate. Many of the magnolias there are rare heritage specimens and carefully cultivated hybrids, some more than a century old and internationally recognised by horticulturists and plant collectors.

Charles Williams, owner of Caerhays Estate, said:

“We have lost trees that have stood for generations. Across Cornwall the scale of damage caused by the hurricane is immense, and within the gardens network there has been significant devastation. But the magnolias have shown extraordinary strength. Every single one remains standing.”

Magnolias are famed for their spectacular spring flowering but are not typically associated with storm resistance. Yet across exposed coastal headlands and sheltered inland valleys alike, these trees withstood hurricane-force gusts and saturated ground conditions that uprooted countless other mature specimens.

Charles Williams added:

“There is something profoundly symbolic about their survival. Some of these magnolias have lived through world wars and countless Atlantic gales. Their resilience in the face of Hurricane Goretti reflects the resilience of Cornwall itself.”

📷Magnolia tree in bloom at Caerhays Castle Garens, Cornwall ©Exposure Photo Agency

A Globally Significant Collection

Cornwall’s unique maritime climate allows it to cultivate globally significant plant collections, attracting visitors, botanists and horticultural enthusiasts from around the world.

The survival of its magnolia collections, particularly at a time when extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity, highlights both the strength of these historic landscapes and the careful stewardship behind them.

As clean-up operations continue across the gardens network, attention is now turning to the imminent spring flowering season. In the coming weeks, branches that endured 100mph winds are expected to unfurl into bloom.

Further information about the network can be found on the Great Gardens of Cornwall website.

📷Magnolias at Caerhays Castle - CREDIT: Caerhays Estate

📷Recovery and Repair at Trebah - CREDIT: Trebah Garden

📷Storm Goretti Damage at Caerhays Spring Gardens - CREDIT: Caerhays Estate

📷Storm Goretti Tree Damage Caerhays Estate - CREDIT: Caerhays Estate

📷Trachycarpus fortunei at Trebah - CREDIT: Trebah Garden

📷Trees down at Trebah - CREDIT: Trebah Garden

📷Caerhays Magnolias - CREDIT: Caerhays Estate

📷Caerhays Spring Bloom Trees - CREDIT: Caerhays Estate