DAVID Stubley (Letters, October 31) presents a gross misrepresentation of our accounts, and wilfully ignores the work that we do which directly contributes to saving nature both on and off reserves.

Most wildlife cannot be saved from decline by nature reserves alone. For example, puffins are in decline from overfishing, climate change and invasive non-native species. Turtle doves are suffering from agricultural intensification, shooting in Mediterranean countries, and habitat degradation in their African wintering grounds. Pressing for policy changes to help these species is a critical and legitimate part of the conservation delivery.

RSPB spends 90 per cent of its net income on nature conservation, public education and advocacy. This includes our nature reserves but also all other activities that we do to save nature from decline: fighting damaging developments; investigating wildlife crime; advising farmers and landowners; scientific research and monitoring (the critical work which identifies and understands the reasons for species declines and finds the solutions); connecting children with nature and inspiring more people to support nature and conservation through our communications and marketing activities. The remaining 10 per cent is spent on administration.

Of course it costs money to raise the funds we need to do all this. But for every £1 we spend fundraising, we bring in £4 – a figure many businesses would envy. In 2014-2015, after the costs of generating income, the RSPB had £98.8 million to spend on our core charitable objectives.

What a shame Mr Stubley does not acknowledge the good work that RSPB does in partnership with so many people and organisations across Scotland, the UK and elsewhere in the world that share our objective of conserving our precious natural heritage.

Stuart Housden,

Director, RSPB Scotland,

2 Lochside View, Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh.