Conservationists And Landowners Agree On Need For Grey Squirrel Cull

The grey squirrel found no friends on the panel of the CLA Deputy Presidents debate on re-wilding at The CLA Game Fair.

RSPB Director of Conservation Dr Mark Avery, Natural England Acting Chairman Poul Christiansen, CLA Vice-President Harry Cotterell and Dr Steve Tapper, of The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust all recognised the damage grey squirrels and also non-native species of deer do to woodland in the key debate chaired by CLA Deputy President William Worsley.

Dr Tapper said: Yes, we should be eradicating some of these species. And Dr Avery said: If I could magic away the grey squirrel tomorrow, I would make that decision.

Even Natural Englands Acting Chairman described the grey squirrel as a nightmare.

The panel were, however, divided on the proposals by Natural England to reintroduce species such as beavers and sea eagles.

CLA Deputy President William Worsley said: Any re-wilding proposal has to have proper consideration and consultation. We have real concerns, particularly about re-wilding the larger species such as beavers. I am a tree grower and where I live in Yorkshire we have real fears about the damage and the possible economic consequences of re-wilding the wrong species.

He added: These species have been extinct in this country for hundreds of years and very often they are not around for a specific reason. Wolves, for instance, are extinct because they kill people and so I think that any re-wilding must have proper consideration.