Truth hidden among claims

Sir, – I remember a fairly recent feature on BBC’s Countryfile programme showing harrowing footage of mountain hares being shot in a mass cull on an east Scotland moorland estate.

The public backlash after the programme went out even prompted a harsh response from the First Minister.

So the latest findings of Dr Adam Watson that our mountain hares have declined to disturbing levels being made public has brought the inevitable denial and counter claim from, among others , land managers of moorland estates expressed via their regular spokesperson.

Goodness knows how anyone is supposed to draw any conclusion from all this.

To settle any doubts as to the truth of the matter I propose that both parties agree to a lie detector test – and chuck in some sodium pentothal for good measure –so we can get to the bottom of this controversy.

So , on the one hand we have Dr Adam Watson, who is an internationally renowned expert on Scottish wildlife, including mountain hares, with a lifetime of environmental and conservation research work under his belt.

On the other, a spokesperson who often champions moorland groups and shooting estates and whose past statements have regularly been suspected of being either inaccurate or misleading.

I know who my money is on .

David Mitchell.

6 Henry Street, Kirriemuir.