EUROPE: THE liberal elite who run this country and those who think like them are never short of a solution to our problems, always providing it doesn't involve facing up to reality.

The current one, of course, is Europe. The reality though, is that neither Europe nor anyone else will solve our problems for us: only we can do that.

To help us do so we should recognise that we still have a lot going for us. True, much of our industrial base and public transport has gone, and we all know why.

But we still have a wonderful heritage of history and landscape, thanks to which we are among the world's main tourist destinations. We need to value and conserve that heritage far better than we have done, which involves, among other things, proper financial recognition of the enormous contribution of small family farmers and other small rural businesses, and, at the same time, improving services for tourists, which at present are woefully inadequate.

Secondly, we need to appreciate in every sense our scientists and engineers - still the best in the world; appreciate and train more, which involves a hard kick in the direction of whoever is responsible for the present lamentable state of our education system.

That way we do have a future, and one that does not comprise our national identity. - T Kelly, Crook

THE European Parliament matters, particularly to young first-time voters.

This age group has much to look forward to in a well-run European Union.

Many young people may already know about the Erasmus and Leonardo schemes.

Erasmus has enabled students from here to go and study in another EU country for one academic year.

Leonardo deals with vocational training: workers or university students are found work experience placements in another EU country.

Partnerships between schools are supported by a scheme called Comenius.

Travelling to Europe has been made easy by the Schengen agreement to which more than 15 EU countries belong. This means that there is free entry from one country to another - within Schengen members. Unfortunately, the UK has not yet joined.

When you travel in Europe you have benefits specifically designed to help European citizens from other member countries; help with access to consular services if needed, and easy access to health services.

In Europe you are living in an area of freedom, security and justice. There are pamphlets to explain what all that means.

Forget parties such as the UKIP with their no, no, no to everything European. Their negative views belong to yesterday, the past and have little credibility in today's world. - E Whittaker, Richmond.

BEE SURVEY

I WOULD like to express my thanks to those people who are taking part in Durham Wildlife Trust's Garden Bumblebee survey.

The response we have had since the first phase of the survey was launched at the end of May has been very encouraging.

The Trust is running the project after recent surveys showed a slow and steady decline in bumblebee species, distribution and numbers across the UK. In the Trust's area, which includes County Durham, Sunderland, South Tyneside, Gateshead and Darlington, the insect is disappearing from many of its old haunts, and is increasingly dependent on flower-rich parks and gardens.

From a possible 18 bumblebee species which once were found in County Durham, about six can still be found in gardens and it is possible that these six common species are only common because of their reliance on our gardens. The aim of the survey is to find out how reliant on gardens bumblebees are, where some of them are in the country and try to measure the numbers of bumblebees in gardens as compared to the open countryside.

The results of the survey will allow us to develop a conservation plan that effectively targets areas where the problem is most apparent. This is why we need as much information as possible and why we are so grateful to the hundreds of people who have requested forms and are taking part.

I hope you will excuse me the indulgence of mentioning that the survey continues until the end of August and anyone interested in taking part can obtain survey leaflets from any Durham Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre, public libraries around the region, or by contacting the Trust on 0191-584 3112. - Mark James, Marketing & Development Officer, Durham Wildlife Trust.

SMOKING

IF, as a non-smoker, you are in the position of having cigarette smoke blown into the air you are breathing, forcing you to be a passive smoker, what would the smoker's response be if you proceeded to blow powdered asbestos around him so he had to breathe that?

After all, cigarette smoke contains far more cancer producing poisons than asbestos, so you are not putting the smoker into a more dangerous position that he is putting you. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

AIRCRAFT

ONCE again complaints have surfaced about aircraft in Yorkshire. Did those who whinge live in the area before the 1930s, I wonder?

If they did, then that was the time for them to whinge. I say that because the airfield at Linton-on-Ouse was constructed in the 1930s. In fact, it was officially opened on May 13, 1937 and since then has had what the planning people say is "established use". So I think it is a bit late for the whingers to complain now.

If they moved into the area after the 1930s then they chose to live in an area where aircraft and airfields already existed. Quite a few in fact, Topcliffe, Dalton, Disforth, Tholthorpe, East Moor, Linton-on-Ouse, York, Marston Moor and Rufforth. Not an ideal place for a person to choose to live if they cannot stand aircraft.

Also, those who do complain really ought to remember that had it not been for the Royal Air Force they would either themselves not exist, or if they did they would be speaking and complaining in German.

I live near enough below the Topcliffe circuit and am proud of the air crew who hone their skills in my part of the world.

If you can't stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen. In this case, if you can't stand aircraft then get out of North Yorkshire. - Rev Ted Spiller, Thirsk.