Be prepared! If you find a fallen tree, use this Pulborough Post Explainer to get help.

Introduction

Autumn is often called the windy season, and with good reason.

Nearly 40 Years Ago This Month……

The Great Storm of 1987 occurred on the night of 15–16 October 1987 due to violent extratropical cyclone, also known as the Sevenoaks Hurricane, forming over the Bay of Biscay, which then made landfall on the UK mainland in Cornwall and Devon. The worst winds — including UK-record gusts of up to 115 mph at Shoreham-by-Sea and 122 mph at Gorleston, Norfolk — hit between midnight and dawn on 16 October. The storm caused catastrophic damage across England, France, and parts of the Channel Islands, killing at least 22 people and felling an estimated 15 million trees.

High Winds = Fallen Trees: Who Do You Call?

Fallen trees can block roads, footpaths, bridleways, rivers, and private land.

The correct organisation to contact depends entirely on where the obstruction is located. Use this guide to report hazards quickly and safely.

1. Public Roads & Pavements

Responsible: West Sussex County Council – Highways

• Urgent hazard: 01243 642105
• Out‑of‑hours emergencies: 01243 642104
• Life‑threatening danger: 999
• Report online: Trees, hedges, weeds and grass

2. Public Footpaths, Bridleways & Byways

Responsible: WSCC Public Rights of Way (PROW) Team

Phone: 01243 642105

Report online: Trees, hedges, weeds and grass

3. Rivers & Watercourses (River Arun, Nutbourne Streams)

Responsible: Environment Agency

24/7 Incident Hotline: 0800 80 70 60

Report online: Report a blockage

4. Private Land (Gardens, Farms, Private Woodland)

Responsible: Landowner

If ownership is unclear: Land Registry Title Search (£3)

5. Parish‑Managed Land

Examples: recreation grounds, Nutbourne Common, Rivermead Nature Reserve, Pocket Park, allotments – check PPC website

• Pulborough Parish Council
• Nutbourne: Land may fall under Pulborough or West Chiltington parish depending on exact location.

6. Tree Disease, Pests or Illegal Felling

Responsible: Forestry Commission

7. Trees Touching Power Lines

• This is an emergency.
• Do not approach.
• Call 999 Electricity emergency line: 105

Quick Decision Table

What3Words – download to your smartphone from the App Store

• Use What3Words to give precise locations when reporting.

Pulborough Key Points Examples – use the app to pinpoint your exact location

• Pulborough Recreation Ground: ///shredding.wriggle.thickens
• Cousins Way Park: ///stowing.variation.mirroring
• Rivermead Nature Reserve: ///commented.issued.massaging
• Lower Street: ///withdrew.commander.pocketed

Nutbourne Key Points

• Nutbourne Common: ///thumb.destiny.cheerily
• Nutbourne Vineyard: ///skater.index.shackles

Reporting Checklist

Include the following when making a report:

• Exact location (preferably What3Words)
• Type of obstruction (full tree, branch, leaning tree)
• Take photos
• Any hazards (power lines, flooding, traffic risk)
• Access issues
• Your contact details

Fallen Tree Data

• UK had 7 tree‑related fatalities in 2025 (none in West Sussex).
• No official statistics exist for fallen tree counts at local parish or district level.
• Forestry and coroner datasets do not track local treefall incidents.
• Autumn storms in 2025 caused widespread treefall nationally, but local incidents —were handled by WSCC Highways/PROW/Horsham District Council/Pulborough Parish Council and not published.

Pulborough and Nutbourne experienced routine seasonal treefall in autumn 2025, consistent with national storm patterns — but no serious injuries or fatalities were recorded.