Storm Arwen: Winter storms force forestry chiefs to reset five decades' worth of woodland plans

Almost a year on from the devastation of Storms Arwen, Malik and Corrie, much of the storm damage is still to be cleared and some forest access is still restricted in parts of Scotland. Estimates suggest the amount windblown trees in the country was equivalent to two years’ worth of timber harvesting.

Now, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) chiefs, who manage many of the nation's woodland sites, say officials have had to reset plans that had already been made for the next five decades, such was the severity of the storms. 

READ MORE: Stunning drone footage shows devastation of Storm Arwen on woodlands

David Leven, FLS east region manager, said: “It is incredible to think that almost overnight we were presented with a new list of jobs that normally takes us at least two years to get done. This on top of our other work.

"There are also processes with clearing storm damage that include obtaining official permission – in the form of felling licences - to remove trees.   

“Some of our forests have been so significantly impacted that a reset of our management plans and work plans over the next 30-50 years has also been required.

"New opportunities for biodiversity gain and climate change mitigation have also been identified and need to be  thought through. Supply of skills and equipment has also been in short supply and we have been actively recruiting more staff to help us to make faster progress."

FLS is also urging members of the public to have more realistic expectations of when access to local storm-damaged forests will resume. As well as the usual processes, the organisation had to wait for survey flights to measure the extent of damage before it could then use that data to inform applications to Scottish Forestry for felling licenses and amendments. Scottish Forestry was also having to deal with private sector forestry interests looking to do the same things.

Once all licenses are in place, FLS is then required by law to undertake environmental surveys of the areas to identify if any protected species are present that will require further amendments to plans – such as scheduling work around nesting or breeding seasons.

In order to minimise any loss to the public purse from the storm damage, FLS also has to find a buyer for the timber that it clears which can be difficult in an already saturated market. Some types of timber are easier to sell than others due to size and mill capacity, so harder to sell product ‘clogs’ up stacking areas until such time as the timber can be sold and moved. This add further complication and delay to the clear-up work.

Storm Arwen wreaked havoc across the UK

David added: “We have asked a lot of our staff, who have gone above and beyond to try and get sites cleared and access reinstated, but the pace of progress is outside out control."

FLS’s east region team has successfully opened Foggieton Woods as well as access to Scolty Hill and car Park, with work ongoing to make safe the trails and the Deeside Way, which has diversions in place. Dunottar has also been the focus of considerable works, as was the Bennachie Centre, which was open in time for Easter this year.