THE letter from Marion Large (You Say, March 11) makes obvious reference to the Waterloo Cup coursing event held late last month at Great Altcar near Liverpool.
Mrs Large admits to relying on a short film clip to form her opinion. Unfortunately, a few seconds of sensational video do not show the whole picture of how important coursing is to hare conservation.
The coursing fields at Great Altcar are an oasis of grass in a desert of intensive arable farming. Ban coursing and this land will be ploughed up, destroying the grass which is the hares main winter food source.
A coursing ban would inevitably reduce the gamekeeping staff required by the estate, making poaching very easy so hare numbers would fall still further.
The facts are clear. Where coursing takes place, the hare does well, protected from poachers and provided with habitat to thrive in.
JON BURGESS,
Malvern.
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