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Message: <blockquote data-quote="saluki" data-source="post: 3214045" data-attributes="member: 2618">I visited Langholm a couple of times last year, the bird life there is amazing, not just raptors and owls but passerines too. I don't see it as a way of offsetting the impact of Hen harriers on grouse moors, rather the way forward . . . hopefully. I visit plenty of overgrazed moorland in the NW of England - as I'm sure you do too Craig - most of it isn't grouse moor. Most of it is also fairly devoid of wildlife.I'm sure many won't agree but, personally, I don't care if a dozen multi-millionairs want to stand in a line and shoot driven grouse if the result is the quality, wildlife-rich moorland that is being developed at Langholm. If this means legal predator control, supplementary feeding and habitat management, then I have no objection. It's a stark contrast to what is currently happening in Bowland.Nothing is hidden at Langholm, there are a couple of information boards explaining exactly what is going on, what the T-perches and crow traps  are for, why the heather is cut, etc. There are plenty of corvids around and, speaking to a guy who's spent many weeks up there studying SE owls, he'd yet to see a crow in the traps! I saw a couple of Stoats, but no Foxes. It really is worth a visit if you're up that way Craig.I absolutely deplore the killing of raptors, I've been involved with birds of prey most of my life. Whatever conservationists are doing to protect Hen harriers clearly isn't working. Perhaps we should try a different tack?CheersJonathan</blockquote>

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