Find out more on legendary World War II hero Sir Tommy Macpherson

Your article in last week's edition of the Strathy (page 3) on the issue of first class stamps honouring a group of remarkable people associated with the Second Word War was most welcome and well timed.

It was of special interest to "Strathy" readers that the only Scot mentioned was Sir Tommy Macpherson, a member of a well known and distinguished Newtonmore family.

Should anybody wish to know more of Sir Tommy Macpherson's extraordinary life and war time exploits his amazing collection of medals can be seen in the Clan Macpherson Museum in Newtonmore.

The collection is exhibited as a tribute to a most remarkable person who served his country well in very difficult circumstances.

Sandy Macpherson

Edinburgh.

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Uplands expansion at Glenmore is local proof

Understanding of natural climax vegetation in our uplands has far reaching implications.

This is certainly so when addressing environmental challenges like resilience in the face of worsening climate chaos and redressing Scotland’s unenviable record on biodiversity loss.

It is thus disappointing that Dr Jamie Williamson, of Alvie Estate, who has long been closely associated with the Monadhliath Deer Management Group, maintains an unhelpfully simplistic view on the natural vegetation of uplands (see ‘Heather moors are natural state’ 17 April and Bigger wildfire risk without muirburn May 1 Letters).

This is perhaps especially so, as for decades there has been an impressive wealth of authoritative, in-depth information on this subject.

Informed sources include a definitive 1991 work on plant communities (Edited by Rodwell) which recognises that widespread burning and grazing maintains heather moorland, leaving ‘little opportunity’ for moorland to progress to woodland although ‘this would be the natural trend’ except at high altitudes or particularly exposed locations (p.500 vol 2).

A local example at Glenmore of succession of heathland to woodland was celebrated over 20 years ago in a Forestry Commission publication, that highlighted ‘substantial regeneration of Scots pine on moorland above the Ryvoan old-growth and nearby plantations’ (A new Dawn for Native Woodland Restoration on the Forestry Commission Estate in Scotland, p.57).

Today it is even more obvious that woodland is naturally replacing heather moorland on the higher slopes above Glenmore Forest where grazing pressure has been reduced.

It must be apparent to many readers that heather moorland can readily and naturally give way to woodland, contrary to Mr Williamson’s misleading claim that ‘the natural climax vegetation of our uplands is heather moorland not woodland’.

Gus Jones

Convener of the Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group

Nethy Bridge.

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Claims are wrong on cost of renewable energy

Charles Wardrop (Strathy April 24) writes that renewable energy as “Substitutes for traditional energy sources are costlier, less reliable and a relative waste of money”.

He is incorrect.

The cost of generating electricity in the UK from wind or solar is less than half the cost from gas (House of Lords Library, Renewable Energy: Costs).

Those cost are an average across when the wind blows hard or not, the sun shines or hides at night.

Of course, we still need electricity when there is no wind nor sun. National Energy System Operator (Clean Power 2030) reports that electricity supply will be assured even then with gas, storage and trading with Europe.

Generating our electricity with renewables, using gas as back-up only when needed, is cheaper than generating it all with gas.

Unreliability of wind and sun is not a problem, if that is a concern of Mr Wardrop.

Renewables are not a waste of money, if we are to help stop global warming by reaching net zero (Climate Change Committee, The Seventh Carbon Budget).

Indeed, the UK net zero economy, with renewable energy, is outperforming the rest of our economy, and ensuring our energy security (CBI, The Future is Green).

Dermot Williamson

Kincraig.

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Time for tax relief on private health care to help NHS

Once upon a time the UK government had an agreement with taxpayers that said that in return for paying National Insurance and taxes they would get, when needed, free NationalHealth Service treatment and dental care.

Now there are far too long waiting lists for both.

Many have been forced to "go private".

Surely the government should ease their financial pain by allowing tax relief on their health costs?

This would then ease the burden on the stressed NHS and reduce waiting times for patients.

Clark Cross

Linlithgow.

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