Letter of the week: Counting Scotland’s wildcats

A selection of the best letters received from our readers this week. Email letters@newstatesman.co.uk to have your thoughts voiced in the New Statesman magazine.

By New Statesman

Scottish Wildcats seen at the British Wildlife Centre. (Photo By Peter Trimming via Creative Commons)

I noted the article by John Burnside on the Scottish wildcat in Clashindarroch Forest (Back Pages, 13 July), which is managed by Forest Enterprise Scotland. The suggestion that a third of Scottish wildcats could be wiped out by the development of a wind farm in this forest is speculative and lacks sufficient accuracy.

If wind energy developments are brought forward, these are subject to the rigorous planning system, which includes full environmental impact assessments and public consultation. The conservation of the Scottish wildcat population would be carefully considered by this process.