Letter: Energy boost

Your report on the potential future for harvesting trees for firewood (20 September) is warming and comforting.

With one of the lowest native forest percentage cover in Europe, Scotland certainly has a great potential to attain a truly sustainable fuel source. And with only one unit area being burned while ten to 15 others are accruing, it offers, at the very least ,carbon neutrality. At the same time, the woodland would provide wildlife habitat, prevent soil erosion, reduce the impact of flooding, increase recreational options and, since most species used would be deciduous, a true "autumn gold" potential for tourism.

Beyond that, why not convert all those exotic trees that cover much of our national parks into saleable stove fuel and use the proceeds to create native woodlands? And what about the man-made "wet desert" so beloved of the moorland myth brigade and wind farm enthusiasts?

The real problem in growing your own fuel however, is that despite the 2003 Land Reform Bill, Scotland still has the highest concentration of land in the fewest number of private hands anywhere in Europe and most of us will simply not have the chance to do so. Sounds like another opportunity for rich private landowners, already accruing public subsidy, to get still more.

RON GREER

Armoury House

Blair Atholl, Perthshire