The Scotsman

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see deer than trees.

Gavin Beattie If we wish to restore parts of the Caledonian Forest, we will need to control the deer numbers, as they eat the tops out of the young saplings. The decision about what is “natural” is a difficult one but, as we removed their “top” natural predator (the wolf ), we will need to consider replacing it.

Edward Baines We’ve been doing that since we lived in caves, and still doing it. It’s a pity much of the venison sold in shops is from New Zealand.

Robert Sharp Unlike other countries where hunting wildlife is the norm we are too populated. The deer are already bred and then controlled on hunting estates. Off estates, licensed experience­d shooters have permits to shoot a certain number of deer which is then sold as venison, so we already have safe, hopefully humane ways of controllin­g deer in place here in Scotland.

Selina Laurie This would be fine, but only with a proper licence and with a knowledgea­ble ghillie to teach about correct behaviour.

Catherine Luke

Scots should be encouraged to hunt politician­s to help the planet. They cause more damage than any deer could.

David Laidlaw

Control, yes. But sport – no! To be encouraged to take pleasure in killing is as damaging to the human as to the animal. Not to mention the indiscrimi­nate harm caused by wounding, depriving young of their mothers, and the inadequacy of proper, experience­d control directed in the right way.

Eileen Johnstone

This would make it unsafe for wild walkers such as myself.

Linda Luah Castle

It’s a no-brainer. It’s an entirely sustainabl­e by-product of environmen­tal management. It has far higher welfare standards than shop-bought meat: factory tortured chicken or some terrified animal transporte­d away from its herd to have a bolt smashed through its head in an abattoir. I hunt deer and had it for my dinner last night. Most UK chicken is reared in comparable cruelty, yet I get judged as an ethical hunter.

Meat eaters need to have a lot more honesty.

Edinburgh’s controvers­ial tram network could be extended across the Firth of Forth to Fife in the future as the capital’s transport chief insisted it’s “essential” to draw up a regional strategy.

Isn’t there already a tram service to Fife? It’s called the train service.

Quyen Lam Do you take the train to work? It’s so crowded I swear I’ve seen children accidental­ly conceived in the crush. Extending the tram over the water is worth considerin­g.

Nick Harleigh-bell Run a small regular passenger ferry from the new Newhaven tram terminus directly over to Fife with bus connection­s and park and ride car park on the Fife side.

Chris Sykes

We have a decent bus service in Fife so don’t need a tram. I would rather see it extended across Edinburgh first.

Donald J Makin

Have the council fully considered the negative impact on the good people of Fife? A massive social education programme will be needed to teach them about the silent serpent that whisks them off to a land of opportunit­y.we will also have to introduce them to hard currency (not swapsies for a hare or handful of corn). Before you know it they will be wanting the vote and electricit­y.

Mackenzie Sutherland

As a resident of Fife I find some of these derogatory comments highly offensive. I shall be sending a telegraph of complaint as soon as I get to the telegraph station in Kirkcaldy, just waiting on my carriage to take me.

Jon Brown

 ??  ?? 0 Reader JC Niven contribute­s this image of a still Highland vista and writes: ‘Wester Ross on a cold, calm day, looking out to Loch Torridon.’
0 Reader JC Niven contribute­s this image of a still Highland vista and writes: ‘Wester Ross on a cold, calm day, looking out to Loch Torridon.’

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