Plant strife

Two cheers for the conservation project to protect threatened plants in wildflower meadows and pinewoods that are “threatened by habitat loss and climate change” in the Cairngorms National Park (CNP) (Scotsman, 18 August).

While this project, led by Plantlife Scotland is, of course, greatly welcomed, it comes against a background of the CNP planners allowing the destruction of such wildflower meadows and pinewoods by allocating them for housing development in its Local Development Plan and granting subsequent planning consent.

For example, two spectacular wildflower meadows near Carrbridge have in recent years been lost to housing development despite numerous objections. One has already been built upon while the other, which was graced by gentians, frog orchids,

and numerous waxcap species including the Blushing and the Crimson Waxcap has now been ploughed (which destroys much of such plant life) and awaits final destruction by housing development.

Elsewhere, near Nethy Bridge, an ancient pinewood, School Wood (owned by Tulloch Homes), is currently threatened with an application for 20 houses within it. Plantlife Scotland, in its objection

to this application states that this development would “result in the loss of threatened habitats” including habitats and species that are “priorities listed in the Scottish Biodiversity List”. Plantife Scotland reminds the CNP authority that “planning authorities [. . .] have a duty to further the conservation of biodiversity” and “Granting permission for this development would constitute a failure of this duty”.

Numerous questions arise from this intolerable situation, where the reality of development pressure in the CNP appears so markedly at odds with its public face.

How is it that large building companies appear able to ride roughshod over the statutory aims of the national park?

And concerning the still to be decided Nethy Bridge application, will the CNP now grant planning permission for a development that flies in the face of its partnership with Plantlife Scotland to “restore and protect some of the rare plants and fungi of our pinewoods”?

ROY TURNBULL Torniscar, Nethy Bridge,

Inverness-shire