Last updated 11:21, Friday, 09 May 2008

Mr John Wright’s letter (The Cumberland News, May 2) describing grouse moors as “sterile killing fields”, reveals him to be ill-informed.

The RSPB itself has stated in its publication The Uplands, Time for a Change that; “management of land for grouse shooting has protected upland areas from the worst of overgrazing and blanket conifer plantations”.

It continues; “grouse moor management is beneficial for some priority upland birds such as black grouse, golden plover and curlews”.

Mr Wright did not mention that the RSPB is controlling foxes and crows on its Geltsdale reserve in order to help those upland species there.

A well-managed grouse moor at this time of year is rich with the calls of breeding waders, and alive with other exciting birds such as merlin, ring ousel, wheatear etc.

All there as a result of the predator control and moorland management carried out by keepers.

The “diversity” is there in abundance.

ASHLEY BOON
Castle Carrock

• At last someone has printed something of the truth of our dear uplands.

Most estates went out of their way to destroy black grouse. Historically there were many more black grouse than red grouse. Only one species of bird needs heather and that is red grouse.

The wild Pennines have been destroyed by grouse roads and draining to increase heather growth just for a few weeks of the year.

JOHN MILES
Geltsdale