Correcting, questioning your writers’ criticisms

IN response to Robert Kemp, it would be helpful if he provided references when making criticisms (“Some control of nature is necessary today”, Mailbox, November 30).

all my letters this year about Brexit concerned the Us/UK trade talks and worries that “our public health, food and farming standards could be undermined” (soil association). I have no idea why Mr Kemp mentioned the treatment of migrating birds in the eU.

He rightly criticised the use of nets, glue traps and guns to kill them. However all these barbaric methods to kill are legal and used to kill a variety of animals in the UK.

all my letters referring to badgers have only been about the scientifically-flawed cull. Mr Kemp mentioned these letters only to air his personal grievances against badgers which have nothing to do with the cull.

Foxes were also on Mr Kemp’s “hit list”. Human activity has reduced fox habitats to the extent it is said there are more urban foxes than living in the wild. There is much advice on protecting chicken coops, but can we blame foxes for their hard-wired inclination to attack them? By the way, Mr Kemp, do you eat chicken? Grey squirrels are also undesirables according to Mr Kemp. They were introduced by humans to the UK and did not come here by choice. Mr Kemp criticised them for eating birds’ eggs which red squirrels are also guilty of.

He is “unconvinced” that animals were involved in the current pandemic and inferred I suggested it was solely man-made. I must correct this. I said the pandemic has been caused by our neglect, abuse and exploitation of the natural environment and animals.

Chris Packham and Monty Don also came in for criticism and I am honoured to be sharing Mr Kemp’s critical comments with these celebrities. Chris Packham’s and Monty Don’s suggestions of the reintroduction of birds of prey and wolves are supported by research on biodiversity and ecosystems which involves “keystone species”. These are critical to the survival of other species in an ecosystem and can be a huge predator or an unassuming plant.

In order to restore our damaged earth it is suggested we harness Nature’s rules, such as the keystone species and replace our intolerance with tolerance and our arrogance with humility.

It is said that if humans suddenly became extinct, nature would thrive. If insects became extinct, humans would soon disappear.

Elizabeth Allison, aylestone