THE relationship between the Royal Family and hunting is complex. As Mark Smith indicated, the Royal Family can reflect wider social change but as regards hunting, they appear to be in a quandary (“Royal Meghan could help end inglorious Scottish tradition”, The Herald, December 17). No longer are tigers and elephants shot at dawn by members of our Royal Family. Instead conservation is the top priority and commendable efforts are made in faraway places to protect habitat, curtail illegal poaching and raise public awareness. Closer to home, however, the Royal Family seems to be well behind the curve.
Between the River Dee and the summit slopes of Lochnagar, lies Ballochbuie Forest, one of the UK’s finest remnants of the ancient Caledonian pinewood, a surviving fragment of the native woodlands which established after the last Ice Age, 9,000 years ago. But only a small portion of Ballochbuie is in a healthy condition, with young trees emerging from the heather to replace the ancient veterans which dominate the landscape. All these young trees are behind a high fence. Elsewhere the veterans are alone, old, gaunt Scots pine spread out across the open moorland, slowly succumbing to time and storm, with no young replacements. The problem is obvious – too many red deer, to the detriment of the natural habitat, both on Balmoral and neighbouring estates. A heavy cull of red deer numbers is urgently needed to reduce the red deer numbers that roam these hills.
In the headwaters of the River Dee lies Mar Lodge Estate, owned by the National Trust for Scotland. Here the ancient pinewood is recovering its former glory, with young trees emerging from the heather as red deer grazing levels are reduced through culling. In its future strategy document, “for protecting Scotland’s heritage, 2018-2023”, MLE comes in for special mention: “We had a massive flood here in 2015, and it gave local people an understanding of how our hills are grazed so heavily that the water just runs off them. Having trees there could have helped a lot.”
Many of those local people who live downstream, in “Royal” Deeside, must wonder why the NTS is an exception in pursuing such a policy in contrast to other Deeside landowners. Even worse, studies have compared the impact of storms which hit Scotland and then strike similar terrain and geology in Norway – the damage and associated insurance costs appear to be much less there than in Scotland. Tree and shrubs appear to be the answer. Over the last 100 years grazing pressure on hillsides in south-west Norway has reduced, with native woodland returning in response. Next time a Deeside citizen is facing the misery of yet more flooding perhaps the answer is to think about Norway and send the bill for their property repair to Her Majesty.
Dave Morris,
2 Bishop Terrace, Kinnesswood, Kinross.
HOW I welcome Mark Smith's article of 17th December supporting the Duchess of Sussex's opposition to killing animals and grouse shooting in particular ("Royal Meghan could help end inglorious Scottish tradition", The Herald, December 17). How grouse shooting could ever be classed as a sport I cannot understand. It is nothing less than mass murder.
Mr Smith also highlights the false economic arguments in support of shooting that we have heard for years and the disastrous ecological consequences of grouse moor management. As a campaigner for more national parks in Scotland I too question Roseanna Cunningham's judgment and her lack of support for key issues related to the natural environment. For example, despite evidence from around the world relating to the economic benefits of national park designations she continues to oppose more of them in Scotland whilst at the same time extolling the virtues of the two that we have. I frankly despair that the SNP cannot seem to recognise that investment in the environment is crucial to secure everyone's future and is a real priority that should or cannot be ignored.
Let us all support Meghan's opposition to shooting and hope that this boosts the case for supporting the proper care of our remarkable upland landscapes and environment.
Ross Anderson,
The Studio, East Lochhead, Kilbirnie Road, Lochwinnoch.
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