The Great Storm of 1987: How Clapham Common Lost and Regained Its Tree Canopy
Picture this: you're stumbling home from a legendary night at The Two Brewers on Clapham High Street, and the wind is absolutely howling. Now multiply that by about a thousand, add some genuinely terrifying tree-crashing sounds, and you've got a taste of what Clapham residents experienced on the night of October 15-16, 1987.
The Great Storm of 1987 didn't just ruffle a few leaves on Clapham Common. It completely reshaped our green heart, transforming centuries-old woodland into what looked like a giant's game of pick-up-sticks. For those of us who've only known the Common as the lush, tree-lined paradise perfect for weekend picnics and post-work jogs, it's hard to imagine the devastation that greeted locals that Friday morning.
The Night Everything Changed
Michael Fish might have famously dismissed hurricane warnings earlier that day, but Mother Nature had other plans for South London. Winds reaching up to 100mph tore through Clapham Common like nothing anyone had seen before. The mature trees that had provided shade for generations of dog walkers, families, and yes, the occasional Sunday morning recovery session, simply couldn't withstand the onslaught.
By dawn, over 300 trees had fallen across the Common's 220 acres. The elegant avenues near Holy Trinity Church on the North Side were unrecognizable. The wooded areas around the bandstand, where locals now gather for summer concerts and festivals, resembled a war zone. Even the sturdy oaks near the Windmill pub had toppled, blocking paths that connected our community.
Local resident Sarah Mitchell, who lived on The Chase at the time, remembers waking up to an alien landscape: "You couldn't get anywhere. Northcote Road was completely blocked, and trying to reach the tube station meant climbing over massive tree trunks. It was like the Common had been erased overnight."
Community Response and Recovery
Here's where Clapham's village spirit really shone through. While the rest of London dealt with power cuts and transport chaos, our community rallied around the Common's restoration with typical South London determination. Lambeth Council worked alongside local volunteers, many of whom you'd probably recognize from weekend farmers' markets or the queue at Brew Cafe.
The cleanup took months. Chainsaws buzzed from dawn to dusk as teams worked to clear pathways and assess which trees could be saved. The iconic avenue leading from Clapham Common tube station towards the pond looked particularly stark, with gaps where majestic plane trees had stood for over a century.
The Replanting Vision
Rather than simply replacing what was lost, landscape architects saw an opportunity to create something even better. The replanting scheme, launched in 1988, introduced greater variety to the Common's tree population. Native species like English oak, London plane, and lime trees were joined by more exotic additions including Turkish hazel and Japanese cherry trees.
The project cost over £2 million (equivalent to about £6 million today), funded through a combination of council budgets, government grants, and community fundraising. Local businesses, from the gastropubs on Abbeville Road to the boutiques on Northcote Road, contributed through sponsored tree schemes that you can still see commemorated on small plaques throughout the Common.
Today's Thriving Canopy
Fast forward to 2024, and Clapham Common's tree canopy is more diverse and resilient than ever. Those saplings planted in the late 1980s are now mature trees providing crucial shade for summer barbecues, outdoor yoga classes, and the countless joggers who circuit the Common daily before heading to work in the City or Canary Wharf.
The replanting strategy paid off during recent extreme weather events, including the 2022 heatwaves and Storm Eunice. The varied species and staggered planting ages meant the Common maintained its green coverage even when individual trees were affected.
Exploring the Recovery
Want to see the storm's legacy for yourself? The best time to appreciate the Common's remarkable recovery is during autumn months (October to November), when the diverse tree species create a spectacular display of colors. Start your walk from Clapham Common tube station and head towards the bandstand area, where some of the most dramatic replanting took place.
For a deeper dive into local history, pop into Clapham Books on The Pavement, where you'll find archive photographs showing before and after shots of the storm damage. The staff are brilliant at recommending local history books, and it's perfectly positioned for grabbing coffee at Tried & True afterwards.
Planning Your Visit
The Common is free to explore year-round, though early morning visits (7-9am) offer the best opportunity to see the tree canopy without crowds. Weekend afternoons can get busy, especially near popular spots like the children's playground and the area around Cock Pond.
For those interested in urban forestry and storm recovery, consider joining one of the quarterly "Friends of Clapham Common" walks (£5 suggested donation, booking via their website). Local tree experts lead these tours, sharing stories about specific trees and pointing out markers from the 1987 replanting program.
The Great Storm of 1987 could have permanently scarred our beloved Common, but instead it gave Clapham an opportunity to grow back stronger, more diverse, and more beautiful than before. Rather like our community itself, really.
