How Game Rearing Pen Netting Protects Pens Before Storms

High winds and heavy rain regularly strain game and poultry pens across the UK. Netting, fixings, and support structures are often the first to be affected, especially when pens are exposed or used long term. These conditions often cause storm damage in game pens, especially during seasonal weather shifts.

Game rearing pen netting protects pens before storms by supporting the enclosure, maintaining tension across open spans, and limiting movement during sustained wind. When netting is suited to the application and properly secured, it helps protect game pens from wind, reducing the risk of damage that can lead to escapes or predator access. As BBC News reports, Storm Goretti is bringing heavy snow, ice and strong winds to the UK, with the Met Office warning it is a “multi-hazard event” and forecasting gusts of up to 90mph in exposed areas [1].

Effective gamekeeper storm preparation depends on understanding how netting responds to wind load and changing ground conditions.

UK Named Storms and Why Early Preparation Matters

The Met Office names storms forecast to cause medium or high impacts, helping land managers anticipate when severe weather is likely to disrupt normal conditions. According to BBC Weather, a new list of storm names has been released for the 2025–26 season [2].

The UK named storms for 2025–26 are:

• Amy, Bram, Chandra, Dave, Eddie, Fionnuala, Gerard, Hannah, Isla, Janna, Kasia, Lilith, Marty, Nico, Oscar, Patrick, Ruby, Stevie, Tadhg and Violet

Some storms affecting the UK may not appear on this list if they are named by other European forecasters. For example, BBC News reports Storm Goretti was named by French forecasters but still caused disruption across the UK.

Named storms are most often linked to strong winds but may also bring prolonged rainfall or snow, increasing strain on netting, posts, and ground fixings. For game and poultry pens, named storm warnings are a clear trigger to check netting tension and support structures in advance. This is especially important during autumn and winter when repeated storms and saturated ground raise the risk of high-wind netting damage.

How Wind and Ground Conditions Increase Strain on Pens

High winds place variable and often underestimated pressure on game rearing pens, especially where netting spans are wide and support structures are exposed. Wind load is rarely caused by wind speed alone. Ground conditions, rainfall, and wind direction all affect how force is transferred to netting, fixings, and posts, increasing the likelihood of high-wind netting damage.

Research published by the UK Met Office in March 2025 shows that the likelihood of wind-related infrastructure damage can be underestimated by two to five times when assessments consider wind speed in isolation [3]. The study highlights that wet ground conditions and non-prevailing wind directions significantly increase the risk of structural failure, placing greater strain on anchor points and fixings.

The research also found that disruption risk can be two to three times higher in wet conditions and three to four times higher during summer months, when foliage increases wind loading. When multiple factors align, overall impact risk can rise four to fivefold, even at lower wind speeds. For game rearing pens, this reinforces the importance of inspecting netting tension, ground fixings, and support posts ahead of forecast storms, especially after prolonged rainfall or seasonal weather changes.

By accounting for these combined factors rather than wind speed alone, inspections can be timed more effectively and help reduce storm-related damage before it occurs.

What to Check on Pens Before Storm Conditions

Preparation before storms focuses on inspection and minor corrective work rather than structural changes. Pens reviewed routinely are better able to withstand sustained wind without sudden failure, reducing the likelihood of damage that later requires aviary netting replacement or urgent repairs.

Key areas to review before storm conditions include:

• Perimeter and overhead netting, checking for stretched mesh, frayed edges, or uneven tension.
• Fixing points, posts, and support poles, ensuring they remain stable and show no movement under light pressure.
• Inspection timing, with additional checks after prolonged rainfall, earlier storms, or when ground conditions soften.

For larger release pens, many gamekeepers use purpose-made systems such as Jumbo Release Pen Netting, which is designed for consistent performance across longer runs and exposed sites. These help reduce the risk of storm damage before conditions deteriorate.

Selecting Netting Designed for High Wind Exposure

Netting specified for high wind exposure differs from general enclosure netting in both construction and intended lifespan. Pens that remain in place throughout the season require materials that retain strength and flexibility under repeated loading, not products intended for temporary or sheltered use. This applies equally to poultry pen netting and larger game pens in exposed locations.

Mesh construction and material quality influence how wind load is managed across a pen. Netting that allows controlled airflow helps reduce pressure on posts and anchor points, lowering the risk of progressive wear. Products made for long-term outdoor use are better suited to prolonged exposure to wind, rain, and seasonal conditions, which can weaken lower-grade materials and increase the likelihood of failure over time.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) guidance on keeping animals in extreme weather states that livestock keepers must plan ahead and take reasonable steps to protect animals from adverse conditions as part of routine management responsibilities [4]. This includes ensuring that housing and enclosures remain suitable when weather conditions deteriorate, rather than relying on reactive measures once damage has occurred.

Using netting designed for game and poultry applications supports this approach by helping pens remain fit for purpose during high winds. We supply a range of bird netting designed to suit different pen layouts, species, and site conditions.

What to Inspect After Storm Conditions Pass

After storms, pens should be checked as soon as it is safe. Damage caused by wind is not always immediately visible, and netting or fixings left under tension can deteriorate further if issues are not addressed promptly. Early inspection helps limit the escalation of storm damage in game pens.

The Met Office’s National Severe Weather Warning Service notes that the impact of severe weather is influenced by prior conditions, including earlier storms, prolonged wet ground, and existing structural weakness [5]. As a result, damage can occur even when wind speeds appear moderate, particularly where netting has already been placed under strain.

A post-storm inspection should prioritise areas most likely to have absorbed movement or load:

• Perimeter runs exposed to the prevailing wind direction
• Sections where netting meets posts or ground fixings
• Mesh showing signs of stretching, tearing, or loss of tension
• Fixings or anchors that have shifted under load
• Areas previously repaired or identified as vulnerable

Temporary measures may help maintain containment in the short term, but netting that has lost its integrity will continue to strain surrounding fixings. In these cases, aviary netting replacement or section renewal is required to restore stability and reduce the risk of further failure.

Planning Ahead for the Next Period of Severe Weather

Periods of severe weather remain a regular consideration for those managing outdoor pens, especially as conditions become more variable across the UK. Having suitable netting in place, along with access to replacement materials when needed, helps reduce disruption and supports the continuity of pen management, especially where high-wind netting damage has occurred before.

Collins Nets is recognised by rural customers for consistent stock availability and responsive service, especially during time-sensitive situations following storm damage. Independent customer feedback can be viewed on Trustpilot. Fast netting delivery in the UK allows repairs to be planned and completed promptly, helping pens return to normal operation without extended interruption.

Call 01308 485422 or use our contact form to discuss netting specifications, replacement options, and availability ahead of forecast high winds.

External Sources

[1] BBC News, “Storm Goretti”: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgdezxj617o

[2] BBC Weather, “new list of storm names for the 2025-26 season”: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/cwy54xllpyno

[3] UK Met Office, “wind-related infrastructure damage”: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2025/study-shows-power-outage-predictions-in-windstorms-improved-when-accounting-for-multi-hazard-effects

[4] Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), “guidance on keeping animals in extreme weather”: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/keeping-farm-animals-and-horses-in-extreme-weather

[5] The Met Office, “National Severe Weather Warning Service”: https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/guides/severe-weather-advice