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No glory in shooting birds
Madam, The first day of the grouse-shooting season – fondly referred to by the shooting community as the Glorious 12th – took place yesterday (Wednesday).
Typically, wealthy shooters kill around half a million of these birds, whose population has been boosted to unnatural levels by intensive management of the UK's moorlands.
There are many reasons to oppose the killing of grouse.
A large number of native birds and mammals who interfere with grouse shooting are trapped, poisoned or snared. Victims include stoats, weasels, and even iconic raptors such as hen harriers, red kites and golden eagles.
Also, an unnatural, heather-rich environment is created because the grouse thrive on young heather shoots. To create fresh young shoots, the heather is burned, which can harm wildlife and damage the environment.
There is nothing 'glorious' about shooting birds for the pleasure of extinguishing life.
Readers who wish to find out more about the horrors of 'game' shooting and what they can do to help to campaign against this bloodsport, should contact Animal Aid for an information pack.
Fiona Pereira
Campaigner
Animal Aid
The Old Chapel
Bradford Street
Tonbridge
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Weather for Matlock
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
