Letters to the Editor - October 2007

More caution on raptor release

The spread of the eagle owl in the British Isles is of less concern to conservationists than the rapid colonisation of all wooded areas by the goshawk. This latter species is an indiscriminate killer which appears to kill (and larder) more prey than it needs. It is tempting to think that (like the fox) it kills instinctively if not for pleasure then because it has a built in compulsion.

Goshawks are a re-introduced species from accidental escapes from falconry or deliberate and illegal releases. There are suggestions that raptor enthusiasts ‘seed’ buzzards’ nests with goshawk eggs. Goshawks certainly kill kestrels. Goshawks tend to take avian prey. Eagle owls are particularly partial to rabbits and, one suspects, hares (both brown and mountain.) There have been concerns about the conservation status of both species of hare (including the Irish hare.) Thirty golden eagles have been released in Donegal where its favourite prey, the Irish red grouse and Irish hare are listed as threatened species.

The whole question of introduced raptors, including the white tailed eagle, needs far more careful consideration and caution than it is currently receiving from the RSPB and Government.

Keith McDougall, SongBird Survival, PO Box 311, Diss, IP22 1WW. Tel 01379 641715

Tongue in cheek?

With reference to Robin Page (August), I too like a full English breakfast and have one every day. I also like a good sausage. Either Mr Page is joking about the deliberate introduction of wild boar or he is being serious. If he is joking, I say that his joke is in poor taste. If he is being serious, I can only say that I am astounded. He clearly gives good reasons for not having wild boar in this country. Basically, wild boar do damage, dig up crops and threaten free range domestic pigs. Since Mr Page is supposed to be all in favour of traditional methods of farming, e.g. free range pigs, I am surprised that he wants those persons who farm wild boar, to leave the gates open and allow their escape.

Mr Page is trying to reintroduce water voles on Countryside Restoration Trust land; water voles have become endangered, mainly because of mink, a non-native species which have escaped from fur farms or been deliberately released by animal rights activists.

When wild boar roamed here, Britain was a very different place from what it is today. The human population was a tiny fraction of what it is now. To reintroduce a large, powerful, potentially lethal species into our countryside, a species with no natural predator to keep numbers in check, is surely madness.

We have wild, wild boar here in Dorset and we could do very well without them. Wild boar don't exactly help the situation with regard to the spreading of foot and mouth disease or swine fever. I am surprised at Mr Page, I really am.

G A Allen, by email

Plenty of good old bangers

What an unhappy chap Robin Page is! If he wants to know where all the good sausages have gone, he can come to Dews Meadow Farm at East Hanney just north of Wantage and he will find out.They rear their own pigs and make the most wonderful award-winning pork pies, ham, bacon and a mouth-watering variety of sausages with every imaginable flavour. They have a farm shop in East Hanney and also tour round Farmers’ Markets in the neighbouring villages.

I have no connection with Dews Meadow apart from buying there regularly. I’m sure they are not unique; there are a growing number of similar excellent farm shops and it is a bit depressing to hear someone like Robin by implication running them down.

Dick Brown, Wantage

Seeds of the sun

The article on apricots (July) reminded me of the village of Aynho in Northamptonshire where the houses have apricots on their front walls. I believe the village was rebuilt by the local landlord to improve living conditions for his tenants. I also remembered my daughter being given a bag full of white apricots still warm from the sun. They were grown on a cottage wall in Churchill, near Chipping Norton.

More recently I attended a wedding in Provence where we were lent a villa and in the garden were apricot trees and each day I’d gather the windfall – they were ripe and full of flavour, true ‘seeds of the sun’.

Dorothy Wise, Clanfield, Oxon

Drainage and dredging

The rains of recent months have done such a lot of damage to our wildlife. Our bees, which have nested in the fields, have been flooded out along with the snakes, frogs, toads and newts. On TV we have seen sheep and lambs being washed away and we feel for our farmers, some of whom were in tears. Fields of peas, barley, potatoes were all lost. The river Severn valley and surrounding rivers bore the brunt of the damage here. Rivers need dredging like they used to be, and our councils need to resume doing all the drains on a regular basis, for this has also stopped in recent years.

H Wooldridge, Worcs

Danger from foreign heavies

Re the charitable reclamation at St Albans (August): more thought on planting is essential or it will contribute to the loss of our lovely native bluebells. Our own dainty, colourful, aromatic bluebells are being overwhelmed by cross-pollination from foreign, heavier, less attractive imports. It is a sad mistake to set about spoiling our lovely wild areas which are unable to compete. Remember bees carry pollen far and wide. Our country and woodland areas are far too good to be lost to foreign heavies. It is already seriously eroded.

B Barron, Somerset

Fur flies for pensioner

I was staying at my son’s for a week to look after a cat, a dog and six chickens. It doesn’t sound like hard work, does it? Nice walks, some gardening, collect a few eggs. But one of the chickens decided to fly over a five-foot fence onto a footpath – and, of course, a dog and its owner were just walking by. The dog spotted the flying chicken and chased it. The man and I chased the dog and chicken across a field and into an orchard, only then did we come to a rest. We managed to catch the bird which I returned to the others who must have thought she’d been on holiday and made a fuss of her. I had to have a cup of tea and fell promptly asleep for an hour and a half. The chicken is young – I am a pensioner. But I did enjoy the holiday.

Mrs T M Hurcomb, Hereford

Good year for dragonflies

After your August article I have a few observations on dragonflies. We have a small pond in our backgarden which this year has given ‘birth’ to ninety-two dragonflies so far, which have been identified by their long green chequered bodies and green blotches on the thorax as Aeshna cyanea. The number has been counted by removing the empty nymph cases clinging to the iris and marigold stalks. More may have emerged on the days we were away. The weather doesn’t appear to be a factor as they’ve emerged in both rain and sun. About two years ago several dragonflies emerged but nothing on the scale of this year.

B A Bessant, Westbury, Wilts

Welcome visitor from the woods

I have a tiny woodmouse that has regularly visited my garden for two years now. I’m certain it’s the same one because he always gathers the food I put out and stores it at the same place. I’ve written a short verse to mark the many months of entertainment he has given me.

There’s a caller that visits my house
In the shape of a tiny woodmouse;
He’s really quite sweet,
But so fast on his feet
That the sightings just last a few minutes.
The food I put out every night
He gathers, then flees from my sight.
He’s so very quick
He’d be missed if I blink,
But I’m so glad it’s me that he visits.