IT used to be said that you could judge the quality of any civilisation by the way it treats its old people, but you could extend it as follows: you can judge the quality of any civilisation by the way it looks after its trees.

Trees not only enhance the quality of the environment.

They not only shelter and nourish wildlife. They are wonderful, admirable and glorious in their own right. A society that cares about and conserves its woodlands is therefore a society that is guaranteeing its future.

Thus, the most successful economy in the world today is that of Japan, a country that has the greatest area of woodland of any developed country, and whose citizens are particularly fond and appreciative of their native trees.

On the other hand, countries that are wantonly felling and eradicating their woodlands, like those of the Amazon basin, are countries that are writing their own economic and environmental death warrants.

Let us on no account follow their example, but instead conserve our existing woodlands and plant more. By doing so, we will assure our own and our descendants’ future.

Tony Kelly, Crook, Co Durham.