Elderly Bulwell neighbours 'terrified' as huge tree crashes into bungalow and conservatory during storm

The tree was split in half by two lightning strikes, residents say
-Credit: (Image: Jessica Rose)


Nottingham neighbours were left "terrified" when a tree came crashing down on a bungalow during a storm. Residents in Sandhurst Road, Bulwell recalled hearing an explosion-like sound which shook their homes on Saturday (September 21) night.

A tree, estimated to be more than 60 ft tall, split in half after being struck by lightning and crashed into six gardens. Part of one resident’s bungalow was crushed, while neighbours had a conservatory and a shed smashed.

People living on the street said they had been calling on the council to cut it back for four years but that their complaints had been ignored. Nottingham City Council did not respond when approached for comment.

Linda Wilson, 72, who lives alone in her bungalow, said the tree was struck twice by lightning during the "terrifying" night. "At about 9pm it was thundering and all of a sudden I heard a massive explosion sound which must’ve been the tree coming down. Then it went again," she said.

"It really, really scared me. I’ve never experienced anything like it." Part of the tree fell on her conservatory, which had been built as a final present from her husband before he died two years ago.

She said it had ruined items including furniture, a fridge freezer and a gas fire. “The conservatory and the fence panels are in a mess. The conservatory is like a swimming pool."

One of the properties underneath the fallen tree
One of the properties underneath the fallen tree -Credit:Jessica Rose

Ms Wilson said she had been asking the city council to cut back two trees for years as they had begun leaning further towards homes. She said she had to go on antidepressants due to her fears over the tree falling.

"I've been crying all the time, it’s horrendous," she said. In a letter addressed to Ms Wilson on September 10, a city councillor said he had spoken to the tree services team and was told there was no need for an inspection.

The letter, seen by Nottinghamshire Live, reads: "[The trees] were last inspected in February 2023, at which time they were found to be healthy, stable and not causing any actionable nuisance."

Ms Wood compared her conservatory to a swimming pool
Ms Wood compared her conservatory to a swimming pool -Credit:Jessica Rose

Jessica Rose, the granddaughter of Ms Wilson, said she came straight away after getting a call from her grandma while at work. "When I got here she was a complete mess," the 21-year-old said.

“We knew it was going to happen. [The council] knew the elderly were frightened about the trees and they brushed them off, all the residents have been making complaints for years.

“It was leaning, you could gradually see it bending more." Ms Rose, 21, said the tree's collapse had left her grandma's neighbour with half her bungalow "hanging off".

"Luckily she was out, it could’ve been deadly if she was in the kitchen," she said. Mark Wheat, whose shed was crushed by the tree, said he thought there had been an explosion.

The roof of the bungalow which was hit by the collapsing tree
The roof of the bungalow which was hit by the collapsing tree -Credit:Jessica Rose

"I came out to make sure neighbours were ok and the tree was gone," said the 62-year-old. "My kids were screaming and crying, the whole bungalow shook. It split the tree in half down to the floor.

“We’ve been asking the council for four years to trim the tree back and they haven’t touched it. They could have saved themselves all this hassle.

“You could see it from the Morrisons, it was one of those you use to guide you home when you’re drunk.” Mr Wheat said the contents of the shed, which included his fishing gear and his kids' bikes was "a loss" due to the extent of the damage.

He said the neighbour whose bungalow was hit was unable to move back in until structural checks were carried out.