FELLING permission has been sought on around 7,252 hectares of Scottish woodlands as part of efforts to clear up the devastation of Storm Arwen. 

Scottish Forestry chiefs confirmed the figure today, saying 70 per cent of all applications have already been approved. Most have taken an average of 16 days to pass through the system - it normally takes six weeks. 

To date, felling has been given the greenlight on around 5,000 ha worth of woodland, with bosses expecting 90 per cent of submissions to have been rubber-stamped by the end of the month. 

READ MORE: Storm Arwen: Mairi McAllan warns Scotland's forests will take 'centuries' to recover

Doug Howieson, head of operational delivery at Scottish Forestry, said staff have been heroes throughout this busy period. 

“I’m really proud of what Scottish Forestry staff have achieved in supporting the industry," he said. "We’ve been under immense pressure but we’ve already approved the vast bulk of felling permissions and expect to have improved nearly all of them by the end of this month." 

READ MORE: Storm Arwen: Felling applications linked to damage fast-tracked

Storm Arwen, and it's 100 mph winds, tore through the UK in late November last year, tearing down countless trees. Estimates suggest around 20 per cent of Scotland's timber harvest was damaged at the time. 

A number of further storms - including Malik and Corrie - have followed since, also affecting much of the windblown timber.