Attack on red deer is an attempt to undermine our sporting estates

Red deer may be "commonly now referred to as pests" as James Reynolds suggests in his report (6 June), but, if so, this perception has been nurtured by the conservation industry via its huge input to the media and government consultations.

However, the accusation of "pest" could equally be levelled at wild geese. Taking only one region, more than 50,000 now winter in Islay. Compare this with the supposed red deer population of 400,000 spread over many millions of acres.

How often do we hear wild geese being described as "pests"? Do we ever hear of ceilings being proposed for their burgeoning populations? Do we ever hear of the effects of their eating habits on grassland habitats, farmers' work plans, or animal health? Not a bit of it. Dense flocks of geese are more likely to be described as an awesome sight and a boost to the local economy. Presentation is all.

The red deer has fallen foul of conservation groups who certainly want to please our left-wing political masters by advocating a culling policy to destabilise the traditional sporting estate. But these charities also discovered a number of years ago that one way to get grants to prop up their non-productive landowning habit is to enter land into an unfenced woodland regeneration scheme.

To disguise the fact that such schemes require no active land management skills, are not intended to produce financial returns or jobs and will often entail either the displacement or obliteration of resident and migratory wildlife and productive farming and sporting enterprises, much is made of their aim to "restore" landscapes of 10,000 years ago. Well and good. So why not restore the landscape of places like Islay to their former post-glacial wooded glory?

KIRSTY MACLEOD

Letterfinlay, Spean Bridge

Inverness-shire

Our wildlife is under severe attack from all quarters. The cormorant, seal and osprey are being persecuted because they eat fish and have the audacity to infiltrate fish pond stocks; the golden eagle, red kite and buzzard are being poisoned as they threaten game birds; and the fox, badger and hare are hunted for fun.

But the biggest threat to our environment is not these wild animals but the two-legged variety who overfish our seas, depriving seabirds of food, and destroy natural habitats by cutting down woodland and draining bogland to plant coniferous trees, among which nothing can survive.

Even worse, every year we are covering hundreds of acres of some of our finest arable land under roads and new housing estates.

It is man's destruction of the environment that needs to be curtailed.

RON BLANCHARD

Kinghorn Road

Burntisland, Fife

You report (6 June) that the red deer population is out of control and that a cull is called for. But before we rush to remove massive numbers of this iconic species, an independent and accurate assessment of red deer numbers and trends is essential.

Deer management groups should agree local deer densities and then set an appropriate cull target.

All shooting of deer should be carried out, or be supervised, by experienced, qualified local stalkers. And every effort should be made to ensure that culls are carried out within the legally established seasons.

TONY ANDREWS

Chief executive

Scottish Countryside Alliance

Ingliston

Midlothian