Closing parts of a garden due to winds

[OneNaiceTealMoose]

I'm in the NW and a RHS garden centre has closed areas due to winds and trees possibly falling. The garden centre has established trees for many decades and they've closed many areas of the garden due to winds. Yes it is windy today, don't believe it's a severe weather warning and winds seem to be 43mph.

Aibu in thinking that's over the top to close any area with trees?

You're allowed one. People are allowed to point out it's a stupid, entitled one.

That's your opinion, which you are allowed. Doesn't mean it's fact though.

Fucking hell all this ire about a garden being closed 😂 are you a Reform type person and this is a stealth anti NT post or something?

Just because you would be happy walking around a garden in 40mph winds, dodging branches flying your way and trees falling at your point doesn't mean everyone does.

There's a duty of care to their patrons, which has already been pointed out but you're just here for an argument. About a garden and wind bizarrely.

I'd guess if you were the one who might go to prison or be sued, if you made the wrong decision you might err on the side of caution

Oh dear

You're just a bit bored, aren't you?

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you don't get blown off an exposed piece of road on your way home this afternoon.

Slain Abhaile!

Maybe their Insurers expect these actions?

Yes they can and yes it will. And the assessment will cover the additional risk level when high winds are added to the equation. Presumably the risk level once all factors are considered, and all mitigations actioned, is low day to day but medium or high on a very windy day.

Lets try reframe this in a way you may understand, to prove a point that this is not all about you.

Im pretty sure every one would agree its fine if you want to be squished like a bug on a windscreen if a tree fell over In the wind, that's up to you and as you say you will face the consequences.

What we are all more concerned about is the poor fucker who has to clean up your squished bug body and the poor people/kids who witnessed you getting squished like a bug. Also all the time money and legal fees, custodial sentences, mental and trauma care for all the other people left behind after you go to squashed bug heaven.

See your entitled to do stupid things and win stupid prizes but a lot of us care about all the other poor sods who are pulled into your mental madness.

Yup. OP clearly never carried out a risk assessment in her life.

High winds at this time of year when trees are in full leaf is always risky and the ground conditions from recent weather may also make things worse than a normal winter storm

I get your irritation OP. The local National Trust places also close round here when wind is forecast. The trouble is that weather forecast are often not very accurate…..

Just go on another day. Stop making a song and dance out of it.

How dare they not put your wants before public safety. OP you need a reality check

It isnt just about the wind speed today. Many trees were damaged during the red warning that professionals are stull working their way through to trim damaged branches and stabalise. And until they manage that trees can be a danger at much lower speeds.

The very definition of first world problems..

Christ. Are you always like this OP?

The RHS Bridgewater always shuts parts (the woods, maybe Chinese stream side garden) on windy days, but I think you’re the first person I’ve seen actually complaining about that. I have visited on mild windy days, no issue, but today it’s pretty blustery and therefore risky around the large, mature trees they have.

If they could avoid losing out on visitors and the spending they bring to the cafe etc they would, and it’s school hols so it’s really no small decision to close off the play area to families.

Now you’re being silly!

🌬️ 🌬️

What PPs said about trees in full leaf being more vulnerable to wind (the leaves act like a sail essentially) , plus rain after prolonged dry weather in summer when the trees are in leaf makes the risk of sudden branch drop higher.

I worked at a small rural visitor attraction. We pinched our policy from a friendly nearby NT property. Their rules were to close at 45mph wind / 55mph gust forecast. We did the same. The few times we did close, I'm very glad we did - debris from broken branches, roof tiles etc could be found across the site after, big A boards blown over etc, and it could have resulted in serious injury. Those roof tiles in particular could have really been awful.

One time a tree blew down across the access road so anyone left on site working in the office couldn't get out.

These were all around the threshold of 45/55, not major major storms (it was only open Apr-Oct so not winter weather).

It wouldn't have been a pleasant visit in that wind anyway.

Do tell me about your feelings on this, have you been triggered?

Parks near me do, when I lived in London some of the gated parks like Richmond and Bushy shut in high winds. In Scotland nearby they closed a local park due to high winds a while back, though hard to enforce due to it being open and not gated but still, advisory is don't go. I worked in places that closed in high winds, because turbulence may not feel much on the ground but higher up its another matter and so hazards may occur with trees etc.

Perhaps they're over zealous but they know best and better be over zealous than blasé when people's health and lives are at risk.

I don't think anyone is saying you can't have an opinion, are they? Just telling you why it's a stupid opinion and you should change it. That's how learning works.

Ok, so if what that poster said to you isn't fact, tell us why. Why would people not be allowed to point out that someone else's opinion is stupid?