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 There will be an inquest over this tragic death but i wonder if or any liability will be handled in a verdict and i suppose they must have a tree expert in to do a report.

Whilst agreeing that we should not relegate ourselves to knee-jerk reactions in the light of this awful tragedy, it clearly raises issues regarding safety on campsites.

(1)There has been a comment about camping in extreme weather conditions. In many cases, gale-force winds have arisen after people have erected camp on pitches under trees.   (2)I am not aware of any site owners/wardens advising against, or preventing, this situation if gales are imminent.  (3)If a gale developed, and people camping under/close to trees wanted to move to a safer pitch, what would happen if no such pitches were free?  Would they be reimbursed for nights lost if they decided to leave the site on grounds of safety?  I doubt it.  (4)Do campsites (clubs or private) have any policy regarding trees, and safety in heavy winds?  (5)Is there an official Health and safety inspection regulation concerning trees adjacent to camping pitches?  (6)Like so many other problems where foresight is an essential factor, will nothing be done at all, "because the logistics of such occurrences are too complex"?

One sure way of getting some action is for all campers to refuse to occupy pitches which are within reach of a falling tree.  Loss of revenue for those pitches would soon prompt site owners to address the "too complex" issues.  This. of course, will not happen, because there will always be enough people prepared to chance it, on the basis that "it will not happen to us!"

Bertie.