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29 January 2003
SNH told to think again
This time about hedgehogs
As previously indicated on Land-Care (1)
the British Hedgehog Preservation Society lodged an appeal to the
Scottish Parliament to allow them to relocate hedgehogs living on
the islands of Uist as opposed to a cull proposed by SNH.
The Petitions Committee met with commendable promptness
on 28 January 2003. The outcome of the meeting was that SNH was
urged to assist in the development and trial of a hedgehog relocation
programme, and to keep the committee informed.
The minutes of the meeting for item PE581 is available
below, and on the Scottish Parliament website at:
www.scottish.parliament.uk/official_report/cttee/petit-03/pumop0128.htm
Land-Care understands that the estimated cost
for culling 5,000 hedgehogs by lethal injection is £80,000
(The Dundee Courier, 29/01/03).
Extract of Public petitions Committee Meeting
2nd Meeting, 2003 (Session 1)
Tuesday 28th January 2003
Present:
Helen Eadie (Deputy Convener)
Dorothy-Grace Elder
Phil Gallie
Rhoda Grant
John McAllion
John Farquhar Munro
Apologies were received from Winnie Ewing.
The meeting opened at 10.07am.
1. Consideration of new petitions: Members considered
and agreed action on the following new petitions:
PE581 Petition
by Fiona Stewart calling for the Scottish Parliament to take the
necessary steps to enable the British Hedgehog Preservation Society
(BHPS) to relocate or at least complete a trial relocation of hedgehogs
living on the islands of Uist as opposed to a proposed cull.
The Committee took evidence from:
Mr Michael Scott, Deputy Chairman, Scottish
Natural Heritage
Dr Jeff Watson, Director of Strategy and Operations (North),
Scottish Natural Heritage
Ms Susan Davies, Head of Habitats and Species Unit, Scottish
Natural Heritage
The Committee agreed to write formally to Scottish
Natural Heritage, urging it to meet the petitioners and similar
groups with a view to assisting in the development and trial of
a hedgehog relocation programme, by providing the necessary scientific
advice and support. It was also agreed that Scottish Natural Heritage
should be asked to update the Committee on the outcomes of this
meeting as soon as it has taken place.
References
1. Editorial. Hedgehogs on Uist
- SNH in More Trouble. Petition to the Scottish Parliament.
(Filed 27 January 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Further Reading Recommended by Land-Care
The Oban Times (2003). Gamekeepers’ Association Official Joins
Growing Row Over Hedgehogs. The Oban Times, 9 January 2003.
(Filed 13 January 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Hope, Mark (2003). Hedgehogs Galore. The Oban Times, 16 January
2003.
(Filed 20 January 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Mitchell, I. (2002). Scientific Objection to the Designation of
the Sound of Barra as a Possible Special Area of Conservation. LandCareScotland,
2: 3-49.
(Filed 19 November 2002, www.land-care.org.uk,
click here to view).
Mitchell, I. (2003). Scientific Objection to the designation of
the Arran Moors as a proposed Site of Special Scientific Interest
and proposed Special Protection Area. LandCareScotland, 3: 1-118.
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