RSPB hit back in Botham row

The RSPB have defended themselves after Sir Ian Botham's comments

The RSPB believe they have been criticised on a range of  issues unfairly and have hit back at the ‘You Forgot The Birds’ group fronted by the legendary cricketer.

They defended the pension deficit which will take them 17 years to pay off as well as the fact they sometimes have to embark upon predator contol.

Chief spokesman Grahame Madge said: “We have been criticised unfairly on a range of different issues.

“In regards to the pension issue it simply isn’t a problem.

“Pension regulators have spoken to us and many other organisations.

“Low interest rates are the main issue. A one percent interest rate rise would half our deficit.

“We are very well run financially for a charity of our size.”

In an open letter printed in the Mail on Sunday, Sir Ian Botham claimed the RSPB is a pension fund with a charity attached.

He also claims the RSPB hides the fact that to protect birds on its 206 reserves, the charity shoots hundreds of foxes and thousands of deer every year.

Again Mr Madge was quick to criticise the cricketer.

He said: “We recognise the attack by Sir Ian Botham is a thinly veiled attack by the shooting fraternity to discredit the RSPB.

“They are rattled by the fact we have taken a stronger line than others in regards to them.

“We don’t hide the fact we sometimes have to embark upon predator contol but it is deeply regrettable.

“It is never the first choice but if other options are unsuccessful then sometimes we have to do it as a last resort.

“We certainly don’t do it for any sort of enjoyment.”

However, Sir Ian Botham says if the RSPB really cared about wild birds it would campaign about our domestic cats which, to be blunt, butcher millions of birds every year.

Sir Ian Botham’s open letter was part of a new campaign by farmers and conservationists who want to force RSPB reform.

The RSPB is one of Britain’s biggest charities, with more than one million members and has been left vast sums of money in people’s wills for 125 years.

To find out more about them visit www.rspb.org.uk