On November 2, 2023, Storm Ciaran hit the Channel Islands and Western Europe with terrifying force, with torrential rain and wind speeds in excess of 100 mph. Thousands of trees were blown down, power lines severed, roads and houses flooded, and main water pipes burst.
We were not in France at the time, but followed it closely on the news, with hearts in our mouths about the damage such a blow could cause to Le Hot and our beloved Manche. Kind friends and neighbours visited Le Hot and sent us photos of the huge white poplar at the entrance to the drive laid low:
The French window style doors between ‘Sebastian’ and the terrace smashed and in bits:
As well as other tree damage in the courtyard, near the terrace and at the other end of the main flower beds:
The treehouse is looking very cockeyed, and may need some serious work:
But, remarkably, the greenhouse appears to have been largely spared, as well as the summerhouse, the two enormous oaks trees, and …….the storks’ nest!
No one has gone inside the house, so our fingers are still firmly crossed about that. And no one has reported back about our little ‘woodland’ – oh, please let at least some our young trees have survived!
The aftermath was apparently the sound of chainsaws everywhere (one of our friends lost EIGHTEEN trees!), lack of electricity for many (sometimes for days) and (irony of ironies) lack of domestic water, with bottled water being handed out at various Mairies throughout the region. We will be faced with a very big clearing task when we get over there!
In the UK, the West Country was also hit very hard by the storm, but by the time it reached Eastbourne, its teeth were blunted – yes, there were a few trees down, roof slates falling etc. but the terrible ferocity had died down significantly. The issue of flooding was much more worrying.
Poor Manche will recover, with everyone doing their bit, but with global warming and climate change very much on the table, will these massively destructive events become increasingly frequent, as we’ve been told they might?
Manoir Le Hot 