Wellington, Somerset: It’s not just trees that are felled, every leaf from every twig has been meticulously picked off by the wind

The day before the storm was hushed and still, expectant as a theatre when the lights go down. Then Storm Darragh swept in, roaring and raging, tossing the scenery about. The government alert on my mobile nearly made me jump out of my skin – but apart from that, I spent the day oddly becalmed, safe from the huffs and puffs of the wolf trying to blow my house down.

It seemed to me that a weather event of this drama and magnitude deserved at least to be felt, so once the worst was past, I pulled on my boots, zipped up my jacket and headed out to pay my respects.