Letters: Wildlife at risk

I agree with the CPRE (D&S letters, Mar 7) that landscape improvements will result. But what about wildlife?

I understand that farmers are suffering, but wildlife is simply disappearing. Entry-level schemes may be a good way to keep up the infrastructure of the countryside, but it will be a hollow victory if our wildlife continues to disappear from it.

The next step from so-called "broad and shallow schemes" must be "narrow and deep". For this, we need to use all the research, personnel and advice available from conservation bodies. Combine this with whole farm environmental audits, and we could produce targeted conservation measures that would genuinely save our wildlife from continued population contraction and extinction.

Farms would have to be properly surveyed for biodiversity and experts used to target priority areas for action.

It is possible for farming to continue and wildlife to recover at the same time, but it needs professional help from non-farmers. We cannot expect farmers to become a new generation of wildlife conservation experts. Luckily, there is a huge resource of conservation skills and enthusiasm in both the farming and non-farming communities (often provided free-of- charge), which currently has little chance of ever being used outside of nature reserves.

It is possible that this next generation of schemes would be best managed independently of Defra, who are still primarily concerned with keeping farmers farming. Good luck to them.

But for this task we need a Government department that is keyed in to wildlife conservation in general, and will be able to draw on the considerable resources of non-government departments, wildlife trusts, volunteer groups, and so on. It is a big challenge, but one that we need to face up to without delay.

GILES MANNERS

Manners & Bareau Countryside

Management

Knayton,

Thirsk.

A1 is a disgrace

Sir, - Under the heading "Time for a clean sweep" the Daily Telegraph advises that the effort of spring cleaning will help to dispel some of the gloom we all feel in these difficult times. Maybe this is a good idea, but whether it is or not, we must do something about the A1 in our area.

I have recently driven in both directions between Scotch Corner and Thirsk and am thoroughly ashamed of what I saw. The verges and lay-bys are a disgrace to ourselves, to local authorities and to the nation. I cannot imagine even the poorest of third world countries being so awful.

I lived previously in Hambleton district and suggested in detail a method of road cleaning used in Virginia, USA, at little cost and great effect. My suggestion was turned down without discussion.

Certainly the general motoring public is largely responsible for this state of affairs, but it has now reached a level when only an industrial effort will put it right.

I suggest that powerful, truck-mounted vacuum cleaners operated by the local authority, at whatever cost, might be one solution, to be followed by severe penalties for those who persist in fouling our beautiful countryside

A T P MILLEN

East End,

Ampleforth.

Access blow

Sir, - I live in Brompton on Swale, a village where I could gain safe off-road horse riding access to several bridleways that can be linked together by permissive access over private land. Until recently, that is.

For many years we have had the kind permission of a local farmer, Ian Long, who has gone to a lot of trouble to create headland for us to ride along so that we could access different bridleways.

However, a couple of weeks ago hoof prints were found all around the edge and even across the middle of his crop fields. I have tried to track down the culprit/s but to no avail and because of this Mr Long has quite rightly denied all access over his land.

This is a mighty blow to all of us who use the land as we now have no option but to access the rights of way along the very busy Richmond road if we wish to ride up to Easby or from St Trinians over to Skeeby and beyond.

If the person/s responsible were to come forward and apologise, Mr Long would be willing to open up the route again. It is so easy to take such kindness for granted but it is even easier to abuse that kindness and spoil it for the many who are grateful.

I hope we can resolve this problem but let it be a warning to others who do not respect the country code. Every yard of safe, off-road riding is a thing that should be treasured.

You may not realise how much it means to you until it is suddenly not there.

Y BROOKES

Richmond Road,

Brompton on Swale