In 1987 and again in 1990 a lot of woodland management work had to be done following strong storms which smashed on to Box Hill from the south-west. Many large trees were blown down, particularly yews as they are evergreen and offer a large area for the wind to catch hold of. Some of the trees were cleared away while others have been left. Dead wood is a very important habitat for beetles, spiders, fungi and lichens, so often trees might be left to rot where they fall, or their logs piled up.
