Hedgehogs Galore

Sir,

I can sympathise with the exasperation of the chairman of the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association regarding the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) initial refusal to recognise the dangers to waders posed by the hedgehog population on the Uists.

Both these organisations have acquired a reputation for being high-handed, autocratic and arrogant towards farmers, crofters and ordinary people and so it comes as no surprise that the local gamekeepers’ well intended advice was ignored.

The RSPB has moaned about the decline in songbirds and the notable absence of Sparrows in many parts of the country. Well, Sparrowhawks, which they have been so determined to protect, eat Sparrows!

This is merely one example of a much greater malaise affecting us all, namely the supremacy of the so-called ‘expert’ or ‘specialist’ over those with practical experience. Wherever we look today we see the administration reigning supreme over the practical man. The fact is that everywhere ‘specialists’ are making jobs for themselves under the pretext of increasing efficiency.

Given the astronomical sums quoted by the ‘experts’ to eradicate the hedgehogs, dare I suggest that if they really want the job done efficiently - and at a fraction of the cost - they ought to commission the local gamekeepers who first drew their attention to the problem. But then again, doing so SNH and RSPB would have to admit they were wrong and culpable in neglecting to tackle the problem earlier - and we all know how readily ‘experts’ will admit to being wrong!

Mark Hope,
Glengarnock,
Ayrshire