THOSE of us who enjoy Scotland’s high and remote landscapes will sadly be all too aware of the steady and continuing decline of our native species and the destruction of our environment. Only two species thrive, red deer and red grouse, both commercially valuable to the shooting and landed interests.

Even so, the news of the decimation of the mountain hare population to just one percent of previous levels in some parts of north-east Scotland will come as a shock (Mountain hares in shocking rate of decline, August 14). This does not augur well for the outcome of the Scottish Government study into the mountain hare population unless, of course, Scottish Natural Heritage has continued with the crazy notion of allowing the shooting estates to act as their agents in the process.

In such a case I think we can expect the count to show that there are enormous numbers of mountain hares and that culling needs to be stepped up! Why would the shooting estates be interested in the truth?

This news is, however, just one more to be added to the litany of wildlife crime committed by these estates. In one 12-month period, 31 of 131 tagged golden eagles mysteriously “disappeared” in one area of the Grampians. “Fred” the golden eagle mysteriously stopped transmitting in February from his location near a grouse moor on the very outskirts of Edinburgh, just a short flight from Holyrood. A recent study by the RSPB shows there to has been a dramatic decline in the numbers of curlew, dotterel and golden plover, all birds of high or lonely places. In yet another astonishing display of stupidity, SNH allowed a consortium of gamekeepers to undertake a raven cull. With friends like this, our wildlife species do not need any more enemies!

All these incidents and many more have one common factor: they occurred on or near shooting escalates. There are voices that say these estates must be more rigorously licensed but I have no confidence given their past history that they are likely to comply. I have even less confidence in our Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform or the various NGOs (SNH, NTS) to implement and enforce any legislation.

There is only one solution: stop all the pussyfooting! Just get on with it and ban the whole shooting match!

JF Davidson
Bonnyrigg

READ MORE: Shocking 60 year decline in Scotland's mountain hare population

I READ your article on the loss of our native mountain hare population (declined by 99% since 1954) with a combination of astonishment and abhorrence.

Astonishment that such a slaughter has again begun this year despite the hideous photographs of the “tweed set” and their assorted lackeys killing these beautiful and hardy native mammals in their thousands last year.

It is abhorrent that our “progressive” nation of Scotland has allowed this mass extermination to continue for another day, never mind the hideously named “season”, which will be as you quoted “for the next five months when tens of thousands will be killed”.

And for what? So that a bunch of rich and privileged old Etonians et al can be driven about our moors taking pot shots at small defenceless birds (grouse) and all for “sport”?

Come on Scottish Government, get this onto the top of your environmental “to do” list and end this slaughter now – it is an affront to all you stand for!

Ian Scobie
Edinburgh

IT was encouraging to read that Richard Leonard will be upping the game on providing social housing should Labour ever return to power in Scotland. He is predicting some 12,000 houses for social rent would be built each year under the Labour party, a considerable uplift on Labour’s previous record in office, when in coalition from 2003-2007 six homes for rent were built.

Housing is a must for all, and the SNP government in abolishing the right to buy social rented properties is certainly going a long way to retaining the housing stock for the needy, a policy in stark contrast to England where right to buy is being extended to housing association tenants. The current SNP administration at Holyrood has achieved over 70,000 affordable homes in their first 10 years in office, and has promised 35,000 homes for social rent will become available in this parliament. House building not only provides homes for families and individuals, but also creates employment in the construction industry which in turn creates much-needed apprenticeships. We can only hope that Brexit labour shortages do not put a halt to such developments.

Catriona C Clark
Falkirk

MANY thanks to Mike Herd for pointing out that the Red Tractor mark has the lowest animal welfare standards of any quality mark in the UK (Letters, August 15). I had not realised this and had not been aware of its increasing use on supermarket food packaging.

This is yet another reason for hunting out Scottish produce which is subject to higher standards. Since suppliers to big supermarkets cannot dictate how their produce is labelled, I will continue to search out Scottish strawberries, potatoes, meat and so on. I will also make sure that those who use a Saltire label know that I appreciate this.

Ann Rayner
Edinburgh

READ MORE: Letters: Why is the Red Tractor seen on more and more food?