Beavering away

Your piece on beavers and trees, “Beavers accused of gnawing down one in ten trees in Scots woodland” (21 September), misses the point.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust and many others want to see the beaver re-established in Scotland because of the role they play in thinning trees and creating open glades in woodlands along burns and lochs.

By doing this the beavers create new habitat for myriad other creatures from otters to dragonflies, from water birds to bats. One in ten trees felled and coppiced in the small area where the beavers at the Knapdale trial is a welcome start, but frankly we hope for more such habitat restoration in the future.

Far from making accusations, I’d suggest that the majority of people who support the trial on socio-economic and ecological grounds are instead congratulating these industrious animals for carrying out valuable conservation work. This is work which would cost us several thousands of pounds if we used a conservation team to try and mimic what comes naturally to the beavers.

Jonny Hughes

Scottish Wildlife Trust

Kirk Cramond

Edinburgh