Storm Arwen forest damage to be assessed

Image source, Scottish Forestry

Image caption, Damaged forestry in Aberdeenshire
At a glance
  • The forestry industry is to assess and map damage to woodland caused by Storm Arwen.
  • Last month's storm brought severe winds that felled millions of trees.
  • Satellite data is to be used to help understand the extent of the damage.
  • Aberdeenshire, Perthshire and the Borders were among the worst-hit areas.

Satellite data is to be used to help the forestry industry assess the damage caused to millions of trees by Storm Arwen.

Scottish Forestry said at least 9,884 acres (4,000ha) of trees had been affected by last month's severe winds.

The worst-hit areas were across the Borders and East Lothian into Galloway and Aberdeenshire, through Angus and into Perthshire.

developed by Forest Research and Scottish Forestry will be used in the recovery process.

Scottish Forestry said for the first time woodland managers would be able to use satellite data to get an initial understanding of where the damage had occurred, without the immediate need for extensive and potentially risky site visits.  

Image source, Scottish Forestry

Image caption, Damage to trees in Glentress Forest in the Borders

Scottish Forestry is working with industry body Confor and Forestry and Land Scotland to assess the damage.

Environment Minister Mairi McAllan said Storm Arwen had provided a "salutary lesson of the power of nature" and the challenge of climate change.

She added: "Our people suffered and so, too, did our natural environment."

Haddo House lost an estimated 100,000 trees during the storm.

Its owners, National Trust for Scotland, said recovering from the loss would take a generation.