Chamber and committees

My name is Roy Lupton and I have been practising falconry for the last 35 years, with the last 28 years spent in pursuit of mountain hares in the Scottish uplands. I fly a variety of Birds of prey but dearest to my heart are my 2 male Golden eagles, Cappie and Baby. Cappie is now in his 28th season and apart from a little touch of arthritis, he's still going strong.

Throughout history falconry has been a fantastic tutor, one of the things I have learnt through following this passion has been practical conservation. In studying and caring for your quarry you develop an innate understanding and utmost respect for the very creatures you pursue. My reason for this lament is because in all the years of sharing the highlands with mountain hares I have travelled to and witnessed populations all across the highlands.

Every time we find good thriving populations of mountain hares, there is always one common factor. We are always on a managed grouse moor. Unmanaged moorland simply does not support the numbers and diversity of wildlife that managed moorland does, with some unmanaged estates being paramount to a heather desert.

The very places that are providing a viable stock of hares are the very places that are being legislated against.  I believe that instead of conserving this enigmatic mountain dweller, this poor legislation will have hugely negative effects on these population reservoirs.

Every year we contribute many thousands of pounds toward the estates that we are hunting upon, with that money going back towards the management and upkeep of the estate, with the keepers happy for us to provide a management tool for the hares.Many hares escape our pursuit but we do account for a reasonable number, although within that number we are more likely taking older and less able hares, therefore strengthening the overall population.

Where managed moorland is so successful at providing ideal habitat to sustain fantastic populations of mountain hares, a management solution is required, otherwise we see large scale disease outbreaks and then a long term slump in the population, which is incredibly detrimental to the other species which rely on mountain hares, such as wild Golden eagles.

Unfortunately in the world we find ourselves within, the only species which are going to thrive and survive are those which have an intrinsic value.By allowing the continued pursuit of hares through falconry this is one small way to allow the continuation of our UNESCO intangible cultural heritage and also give a monetary value to the mountain hare. Which will benefit the practical and essential management and conservation of this species and its habitat.