The Scotsman

Fury over lynx support claims

- By BRIAN HENDERSON

A community meeting of those living near the Kielder forest, the site proposed for a trial release of lynx, has seen local farmers and residents challenge claims that all landowners in the area have given their backing to the project.

Residents, community groups, farmers, landowners and other business interests – including from the Scottish side of the Border – yesterday attacked what it called “misleading claims” on the level of support – and called on the licensing authority, Natu- ral England, to hold its own consultati­on on the topic before any decision on the proposed release was taken. The meeting took place following claims made by the Lynx UK Trust that a public consultati­on had shown solid support for the move, with backing from all major landowners.

“We are calling on Natural England to thoroughly test all claims made within the licensing applicatio­n by the Lynx UK Trust,” read a statement from the community group, released by the National Sheep Associatio­n (NSA) yesterday.

The group said they completely denied any suggestion that they did not care passionate­ly for the environmen­t and also strongly denied that objections only concerned potential sheep losses: “We strongly object to the consequent abuse generated against our farmers by those who have no knowledge of our area and its communitie­s. We would stress that ecological restoratio­n projects, many on-going in Kielder itself, have strong local support and are greatly valued.”.

The group also said it had serious concerns about the welfare of released animals in an industrial forest.

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