NORTH–Yorkshire is justly proud – sometimes even boastful – of its beauty. But that beauty, particularly in the areas that best define it – the majestic uplands of the Moors and Dales – is witness to a shameful secret.

The county holds the country’s worst record for the persecution of birds of prey.

Since 1990, at least 64 birds of prey, many of them rare, have been deliberately shot or poisoned in the county. There will be others which have not been discovered.

The buzzard is now Britain’s most common bird of prey. Yet in NorthYorkshire, which you might expect to be one of its strongholds, it is still uncommon. Last week one was found near Pateley Bridge with pellets in a leg and damaged flight feathers. Nidderdale seems to be a particular persecution blackspot, for more than one red kite, no doubt originating from the successful release programme at Harewood House, has been found dead there.

The losses are widespread and cannot be divorced from North Yorkshire’s strong shooting interests. Now the RSPB has come up with an idea. It proposes that any estate where persecution is proved should lose the land-management subsidies that support shooting, which generates wealth and jobs.

As an ultimate sanction, shooting rights could even be withdrawn.

That such extreme measures are suggested indicates the gravity of the problem, with some birds, the hen harrier for instance, persecuted to the edge of extinction. Even so, is this draconian action really necessary?

Greater tolerance of birds of prey is undoubtedly practised by responsible estates.

Recently I observed a buzzard in Farndale for the first time, and last summer I saw a family group near Ampleforth, a prime pheasant shooting area.

Before the heavy hand of the law is invoked, perhaps shooting estates could commit themselves to a simple Declaration of Intent towards birds of prey. Signed by the owner – never less – this would specify that the estate’s policy, communicated to all relevant staff, is to tolerate birds of prey, and any employee found in breach of this would be dismissed.

With the tide of opinion generally running against blood sports, the shooting interests would gain precious goodwill if their activities are seen to benefit, rather than harm, our thrilling birds of prey.

THE Coalition is reportedly set to blitz many of the laws which have made “health and safety” a laughing stock. The other day an example emerged in county cricket.

In only his second game for his county, 18- year-old Moin Ashraf, a fast bowler from Bradford, grabbed three wickets for 16 in a key game against Kent at Headingley. His haul might have been more, but he was restricted to bowling only seven overs in a spell.

On the same day, the BBC broadcast a drama about a Battle of Britain hero who, at 18, was a pilot of the Spitfire. “Come in, Number 62 (or whatever) your dogfight time is up.”

SO, insurance swindler Anne Darwin, wife of Canoe Man John Darwin, is to be moved to an open prison. Assuming she is a model prisoner, fair enough. But what about the town visits that, seemingly, go with the transfer, to prepare her for her release? Of course the experience of traipsing round Marks & Spencer’s has changed much since she was jailed in July 2008.