Don't encourage this unwelcome visitor

How can a supposedly educated person refer to the North American tree rat as a grey squirrel, and not only that, boast about having the "biggest, fattest and most contented" vermin on the planet.

I refer to Ian Rotherham's article (Country Week, February 13), which would have been more appropriate on April 1. The alien North American should be treated as the unprotected, unwelcome vermin which it is, and eradicated from our shores.

They also predate on the eggs and young of our small bird population, which would benefit greatly from their demise, if only for the food on the "bird" table.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I live for the day when the indigenous red squirrel will be seen in this area again but what chance is there when people nurture their worst enemy? I have yet to see a Siberian Chipmunk but I hope they are not going to be another threat to our wildlife, along with the mink and the Signal crayfish, etc. They are certainly not "Omens of good fortune".

From: DKJ Harrison, Main Street, Addingham, Ilkley.

From: Paul Dunn, New Leys Farm, Stokesley Road, Helmsley.

I read with interest in last Saturday's Country Week the article providing the answers over the proposed 50m dairy herd in Lincolnshire.

This is factory farming beyond reason. The public who buy our dairy products are against this type of farming and it needs to be opposed by the farming industry itself.

It would be better for man, beast and the environment if we could have 80 family farmers with 100 cows each rather than this project.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Big isn't always beautiful and I trust that North Kesteven Council will reject the plans. If it does go ahead the saying might come true – "Give them plenty of rope and they might hang themselves".

From: Pamela Frankland, Lodge Farm, Dunnington.

I agree with the letter from SQ Clark last week with regard to dredging rivers.

Defra and the Environment Agency would be no more without farming. This state of affairs must be sorted out now. What happened in the Cumbria floods with the loss of Pc Bill Barker must not be repeated.

How many more people are to be "drowned out" of their houses and businesses? Flood barriers for a few hundred yards are useless. The Ouse in York used to be constantly dredged as was the Derwent. When are the powers-that-be going to admit to it?

Related topics: