Against eco-wokeness

sir – Congratulations to Ian Botham on his article (“I won’t let the eco-woke ruin our countryside”, Comment, November 14).

Only a few high-profile people seem prepared to combat the arguments from well-known, sanctimonious Left-wingers. Not enough people know that those involved in country sports are frequently the people who do most for nature conservation.

I, too, have seen crows pecking out the eyes of sheep and carrying away newly hatched ducklings. Nature is like that – but man should also be allowed to intervene to protect his own interests, as farmers and gamekeepers do. Lord Botham speaks much common sense on country matters, and we are fortunate to have him in the House of Lords.

Max Leins

Wellington, Somerset

sir – How refreshing to read Lord Botham’s attack on the “eco-woke”.

As a rambler, I appreciate the delights that our countryside has to offer and the good work our farmers do in feeding us while maintaining our green and pleasant land.

I am appalled by the antics of Chris Packham and his fellow eco-warriors, who advocate reintroducing wolves into Britain, for example – despite the trouble this would cause for farmers and their stock. Farmers have enough problems to deal with as it is.

Mike Bridgman

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

sir – Lord Botham generously describes gamekeepers as the people who “do the real work of managing nature and looking after the well-being of many endangered birds”.

Yet their methods leave a little to be desired. Grouse moors correlate very precisely with areas of high wildlife crime. There are daily records of illegal trapping, shooting and poisoning of protected raptor species. The tons of lead shot scattered across the hills are hardly beneficial to wildlife, either.

Meanwhile, promoting the artificial monoculture of heather by any means necessary (including burning peat moors) is the antithesis of biodiversity. With friends like these, who needs enemies?

David Moorse

Shanklin, Isle of Wight