Sadly, in the final sentence of his otherwise excellent article, George Monbiot succumbs to the use of the word “sport” (Britain’s pheasant shooting season has begun. And a year-round massacre makes it possible, 6 October). Someone once said that for something to be considered a sport, all parties should be willing participants, which the game birds quite plainly are not.
Dr John Davies
Kirkby-in-Cleveland, North Yorkshire
• For a few weeks we’ve had three females and one scrawny juvenile male pheasant visiting our garden and helping themselves to bird food. The father occasionally visits, squawking loudly to notify us of his presence. They are a pleasure to watch and I’m glad to have given them a safe haven, if only for a while, from their wanton destruction and treatment in the name of “sport”. Now, if only I could keep them away from the main road.
Anne Twynam
Shifnal, Shropshire
