Letter: Moor project

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is disheartened by the figures for illegal poisoning of birds of prey in Scotland released by Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime in Scotland (your report, 15 March), but the report also underlines the need for greater conflict resolution and an urgency for real, workable measures that benefit all concerned.

This is the approach being explored by the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project which aims to demonstrate an effective means of resolving the raptor-grouse moor controversy. This is a joint initiative between Scottish Natural Heritage, Buccleuch Estates, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, RSPB and Natural England.

The overall aim of the project is to establish Langholm Moor as an economically viable grouse moor which also meets the site's nature conservation objectives.

Legal predator control of foxes, crows, stoats and weasels is being carried out, as well as diversionary feeding of nesting hen harriers and habitat creation for hen harriers and other moorland breeding birds.

It is hoped the project will play a significant role in developing our understanding of these and similar conflicts and in due course help conserve all of Scotland's wildlife at a manageable and sustainable level. The figures are unacceptable. It's time to resolve the problem.

Katrina J Candy

Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust

Perth Airport

Scone