Wildfire risk is no higher on estates with regeneration
I hear the claims which Jamie Williamson (letter in Strathy 3 April) regularly makes regarding muirburn.
If he is correct in his claim that muirburn reduces fire risk in our upland areas, then there should be statistics showing that areas in which little or no muirburn is carried out carry a much higher fire risk.
For example, there are large tracts of upland within our national park (the Cairngorms Connect estates – some 600 square kilometres) in which little or no muirburn is conducted.
Are there higher incidents of wildfires on these estates, excluding the fires clearly caused by negligent camping activities?
Additionally, when walking through Cairngorms Connect areas, I see little of what he describes as dead dying and rank vegetation.
The very opposite is occurring on these estates – regeneration.
Additionally it would be interesting to compare the biodiversity in muirburn grouse moors with that found in areas where regeneration is encouraged.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service remains highly concerned with the current fire risk in the Highlands yet muirburn is going on a pace before the currently advisory Spring deadline.
I was walking in the hills between Dorback Lodge and Bridge of Brown a few days ago.
There was plenty of muirburn still continuing including what appeared to be a huge out of control muirburn on the moors north of Carrbridge and east of Tomatin.
I have pictures of this distant blaze with a cloud of smoke towering into the sky.
It seems our grouse moor estates are intent on continuing their grouse farming and creating the man-made landscape of much of our Highlands.
Gordon Bulloch
Grantown.
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Good luck to new CEO at mountain
The new boss in tourism, as you report (Strathy, 7 April), Mike Gifford, will have a hard job but his area is as attractive and accessible to UK and international visitors as any in Scotland.
Hopefully, he will help resist the onslaught of wind turbines and their pylons, an atrocious scar on tourist areas without any justification of value for money as generators of intermittent, so paltry, power.
Likewise, he will help energise the restored Cairngorm Mountain Railway, as good for tourism as anything to do with the scourge of "greenery" is harmful.
Unfortunately, of course, he can't bring snow for skiing, any more than we can tame the climate but he can encourage tourists in every other regard, including strengthening the tourist information centres by resisting their closure.
Charles Wardrop
Viewlands Rd West
Perth.
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Spotting signs of emotional abuse
Nearly all adults in Scotland believe emotional abuse in childhood can have a lasting psychological effect but only one in six can spot the signs of emotional abuse.
These findings, from a recent YouGov survey commissioned by the NSPCC, reveal that many adults struggle to identify behaviours such as being overly controlling of a child’s life, failing to show emotions in interactions with a child, and pushing a child too hard – even though we know emotional abuse can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on children's wellbeing and development.
The research also found that two-thirds of adults (69%) in Scotland surveyed had not done any training or reading to help them recognise the signs of emotional abuse.
Research suggests that in the UK, one in 15 children will experience emotional abuse. Many of these children reach out to Childline, which last year delivered almost 3,000 counselling sessions on emotional abuse — a five per cent increase compared to 2022/23.
That’s why the NSPCC’s Listen up, Speak up campaign is so important. Free workshops and online resources help adults recognise when a child may be at risk and give practical guidance on what action to take. Emotional abuse can be just as harmful as physical abuse so it is important we all take responsibility for protecting vulnerable children.
Our campaigns team is available to visit organisations in Scotland to deliver Listen up, Speak up. If you are part of a business, public or community group, get in touch to arrange a workshop.
Every adult has the power to change a child’s future for the better — by listening, learning, and taking action.
Carla Malseed
Local campaigns manager
NSPCC Scotland
Glasgow.
