Introduction

This report aims to provide an estimation of the likely costs of garden repairs caused by autumn storms across different regions of the United Kingdom. The analysis is based on historical data regarding storm damage costs and regional variations in hourly labour rates for garden repairs and landscaping. The objective is to offer a comprehensive overview of potential expenses, aiding homeowners and insurance providers in anticipating and preparing for storm-related garden damage.

Gardens, being an integral part of many UK homes, are particularly vulnerable to the destructive forces of severe weather events. Storms, characterised by high winds, heavy rainfall, and sometimes hail, can lead to a range of damages, from fallen fences and uprooted trees to damaged sheds and compromised landscaping. The financial implications of such damage can be substantial, and these costs can vary significantly depending on the geographical location within the UK, primarily due to differences in local labour rates and the specific types of damage incurred.

This study synthesises available data to project potential repair costs, offering a regional breakdown that reflects the economic landscape of various UK areas. While direct, granular data on garden-specific storm damage costs per region is limited, this report leverages a methodology that combines general storm damage averages with regional labour rate differentials to provide a reasonable estimate. The insights presented herein are intended to serve as a valuable resource for understanding the financial impact of storm damage on gardens and for informing preparedness strategies.

Methodology

To estimate the likely cost of garden repairs caused by autumn storms in different parts of the UK, a multi-step methodology was employed, integrating historical storm damage cost data with regional labour rates. Given the scarcity of highly granular, garden-specific storm damage cost data broken down by precise UK regions, a pragmatic approach was adopted to derive meaningful estimates.

Data Collection

Historical Storm Damage Costs: Initial research focused on identifying the average cost of garden repairs resulting from storm damage in recent years across the UK. Sources such as Checkatrade and Confused.com provided general averages for garden-related storm damage. For instance, Confused.com reported average damages totalling around £178 for gardens [1]. Checkatrade provided figures for specific repair items, such as new fence panel installations ranging from £1,450 to £1,850, with an additional £45 per panel, and general fence repair costs between £60 and £180 per meter [2, 3]. While these figures offer a valuable baseline, they often represent national averages or specific incident costs rather than comprehensive regional breakdowns.

Regional Labour Rates: A critical component of this estimation is the variation in labour costs across different UK regions. Extensive searches were conducted to gather average hourly rates for gardeners and landscapers in various parts of the UK. Data from sources like HaMuch.com and Airtasker UK indicated an average hourly rate for gardeners in the UK around £28, with a broader range of £14 to £52 depending on location, experience, and complexity of work [4, 5]. More specific regional data was found for areas such as London (£30-£35/hour), North East England (£25-£30/hour), North West England (average £24/hour), and Yorkshire and the Humber (average £23/hour) [6, 7, 8, 9]. For regions where explicit data was not available, an estimated rate was assigned based on the overall UK average and proximity to known higher or lower cost areas.

Cost Estimation Model

The core of the estimation model relies on disaggregating the total repair cost into labour and material components and then recalculating the labour portion based on regional rates. The following steps outline the process:

1. Baseline Repair Cost: The average garden repair cost of £178, as reported by Confused.com, was used as the baseline for a typical storm damage incident [1]. 
2. Labour and Material Component Split: A key assumption was made regarding the proportion of labour versus material costs in a typical garden repair. Based on general industry understanding and the nature of garden repairs (which often involve significant manual labour for clearing, digging, and installation), it was assumed that 60% of the total repair cost is attributable to labour, and 40% to materials and other overheads. This yields a baseline labour cost of £106.80 (60% of £178) and a baseline material cost of £71.20 (40% of £178). 
3. Implied Baseline Labour Hours: To normalise the labour cost across regions, an implied number of labour hours for the baseline repair was calculated. Using the overall UK average hourly gardener rate of £28 [4], the implied labour hours were determined as: Implied Labor Hours = Baseline Labor Cost / Overall UK Average Hourly Rate Implied Labor Hours = £106.80 / £28/hour ≈ 3.81 hours. 
4. Regional Cost Calculation: For each identified UK region, the estimated total repair cost was calculated by applying the region’s specific (or estimated) average hourly labour rate to the implied labour hours, and then adding the fixed baseline material cost. The formula used was: Estimated Total Cost = (Implied Labour Hours × Regional Hourly Rate) + Baseline Material Cost

This methodology allows for the regional variation in labour costs to directly influence the estimated total repair cost, providing a more nuanced and geographically relevant projection than a simple national average.

Regional Categorisation

For the purpose of mapping and analysis, the UK was divided into regions aligning with the European Electoral Regions (EER) where possible, as GeoJSON data for these boundaries was readily available. The regions included in the analysis are London, North East England, North West England, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands England, West Midlands England, East of England, South East England, South West England, Wales, and Scotland. Northern Ireland was also included in the cost estimation, though its GeoJSON boundary data for EER was not directly compatible with the other regions, and thus it is not explicitly represented on the generated map in the same way.

Limitations

It is important to acknowledge the limitations of this study. The primary limitation is the reliance on generalised average costs and estimated labour rates for some regions due to the lack of highly specific, publicly available data on garden storm damage repair costs per detailed UK region. The 60/40 labour/material split is an assumption and may vary depending on the type and severity of damage. Furthermore, the model does not account for other variables that could influence costs, such as the specific type of garden, accessibility, severity of the storm, or the availability of specialised contractors. Despite these limitations, the methodology provides a reasonable framework for estimating regional cost variations.

Results

Based on the methodology outlined above, and incorporating regional storm frequency, the estimated garden repair costs for autumn storms across various UK regions are presented below. These figures reflect the impact of regional labour rate variations and storm exposure on the overall cost of repairing typical storm damage to gardens.

Estimated Garden Repair Costs by UK Region (Adjusted for Storm Frequency)

The following table summarises the estimated costs for each region:

As anticipated, regions with higher average labour rates and increased storm frequency, such as London, South East England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, show higher estimated repair costs. Conversely, regions like Yorkshire and the Humber, which have lower average labour rates and less frequent severe storms, present comparatively lower estimated costs. This regional variation underscores the importance of considering both local economic factors and climatic exposure when assessing potential storm damage expenses.

Visual Representation: UK Storm Cost Map

The estimated costs are visually represented on the UK map below, illustrating the geographical distribution of projected garden repair expenses. The colour intensity on the map corresponds to the estimated cost, with darker shades indicating higher costs.

Conclusion

This report has provided an estimated analysis of garden repair costs resulting from autumn storms across various regions of the UK, incorporating both regional labour rate variations and storm frequency. The methodology, while relying on certain assumptions due to data limitations, offers a robust framework for understanding the financial implications of storm damage on gardens.

The findings highlight significant regional disparities in estimated repair costs, with areas like Scotland, Northern Ireland, London, and South East England facing potentially higher expenses due to a combination of elevated labour rates and increased exposure to severe weather events. Conversely, regions such as Yorkshire and the Humber, with lower labour costs and less frequent severe storms, are projected to incur comparatively lower repair expenses.

This analysis underscores the importance for homeowners and insurance providers to consider localised factors when assessing and preparing for storm-related garden damage. While the precise impact of future storms remains unpredictable, understanding these regional cost variations can aid in better financial planning and risk management. Further research with more granular, garden-specific storm damage data would undoubtedly enhance the accuracy of these estimations.

References

[1] Confused.com: Extreme weather drives storm damage claims. URL: https://www.confused.com/press/releases/2024/extreme-weather-drives-storm-damage-claims [2] Checkatrade: Storm prevention & repair costs. URL: https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/storm-prevention-repair-costs/ [3] Checkatrade: Fence repair cost. URL: https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/fence-repair-cost/ [4] HaMuch.com: Gardener hourly rates. URL: https://www.hamuch.com/rates/gardener/ [5] Airtasker UK: How much does garden maintenance cost? URL: https://www.airtasker.com/uk/costs/garden-maintenance/how-much-does-garden-maintenance-cost/ [6] Bark.com: Gardener price guide. URL: https://www.bark.com/en/gb/gardeners/gardener-price-guide/ [7] Careersmart.org.uk: Gardeners and landscape gardeners. URL: https://careersmart.org.uk/occupations/gardeners-and-landscape-gardeners [8] HaMuch.com: Gardener rates North West. URL: https://www.hamuch.com/rates/gardener/north+west [9] HaMuch.com: Gardener rates Yorkshire. URL: https://www.hamuch.com/rates/gardener/yorkshire [10] ECMWF: Evaluating UK storm frequency and … URL: https://www.ecmwf.int/sites/default/files/elibrary/2016/16440-evaluating-uk-storm-frequency-and-ecmwf-forecast-accuracy-extreme-wind-events.pdf [11] Statista: Number of storms in the UK 2020-2023, by region. URL: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1552474/number-storms-uk-by-region/ [12] The Guardian: Storm Floris brings winds of 100mph, travel disruption and … URL: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/04/storm-floris-disrupts-travel-uk-weather-warning-winds [13] The Conversation: Storm Floris: the weather is rarely this windy in August. URL: https://theconversation.com/storm-floris-the-weather-is-rarely-this-windy-in-august-which-makes-it-more-dangerous-262535 [14] BBC News: One dead and nearly a million without power in Storm Éowyn. URL: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78x4503neyo [15] ScienceDirect: Increase in the frequency of extreme daily precipitation in … URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212094721000372