A diatribe with a shaky grasp of its subject, 13 Jul 2000

The book makes a number of allegations which are at best matters of opinion, such as the motives of the crofters who bought (partly with state aid) their own island from the previous absentee owner; and at worst founded on ignorance of the subject with which it claims to deal. For example, in a long passage on corncrakes, a type of bird the RSPB is attempting to conserve in the Hebrides, there seems no awareness at all that "threatened species" is a technical term in conservation biology. It has a precise and complex definition, devised by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, a body charged with, among other things, categorising levels of conservation risk in a scientific manner. It does not (necessarily) mean "in danger of extinction" - which is the presumption of the discussion - or even "rare". The RSPB description of corncrakes, specifically, as "threatened" is taken from the IUCN official (and internationally recognised) publication on bird conservation and has not been, as strongly implied, invented by the RSPB in order to obtain funding under false pretences.

Further points could be rebutted in detail but would be wearisome so to do; most are based on the implication that the funders of the RSPB are ignorant of facts found in any mainstream book on birds above the field-guide level.

Particularly disturbing to this reader was the merciless and extended ridicule of a insecure young RSPB employee, who is named, for being young and insecure alone in the author's presence. There was no need for this whatever for the purposes of the argument.

Any value this book might have had as a serious contibution to the land use debate in the Highlands and Islands is fatally undermined by ignorance of elementary facts on subjects with which it claims to deal, combined with an unnerving streak of uncharitability.

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A travelogue into obsession., 21 Jul 2001

He raises pertinant and topical questions about land ownership and nature conservation in 20th Century Scotland. However, his interview style is at best blunt and at times threatening to the poor souls who he accosts in his search for the truth about nature conservation organisations and their activities in the Scottish Highlands. This single minded quest for his version of the truth does eventually get a little wearying, as does his unrelenting free loading from every local and traveller he meets.

Its a pity because the writing style is readable (excessive superaltives apart)and the subject matter topical and relevant.

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