Puzzled about land creation

YOU reported (Yorkshire Post, August 20) on an announcement by the Environment Secretary that she is to create half a million more acres of woodland and meadow.

Once upon a time food subsidies were paid to the food industry. In order to stop fraud, these subsidies were paid to farmers, and attached to land. More land is now to be created. Created from what, or from where?

Also, one sixth of England’s land will be managed to help wildlife. These subsidies, which are paid to farmers, are to be more focussed on the environment. Can anyone make more sense of it?

In the frame

From: Muriel Caygill, Plompton Grove, Harrogate.

I WAS really blown away by two of your pictures (Yorkshire Post, August 27).

I was so pleased to see Boxter the bull photographed by Gary Longbottom. His joy at being out in a field again was so obvious. I have followed his story with interest and trepidation, and can’t tell you how pleased I am for the family who own him.

The other one was of the tall ship passing the Gherkin – what precision on behalf of the photographer. We have just had a sightseeing holiday in London (not been there for 45 years), so we are aware that the Gherkin is not on the next road to the Thames.

Super pictures – thank you for a bit of joy.

Jobs solution

From: Colin Smith, Beech View, Ferrybridge.

I WAS talking a short while ago to a man who had just lost his job. He stated that he could curb immigration and drastically reduce unemployment by passing one piece of legislation.

The new piece of legislation? That the minimum wage be paid to all workers and that if this law was broken then very hefty fines be levied on the businesses that broke it.

How would that help? Well if the employers were made to pay the minimum wage to everybody, then there would be no need to employ immigrants, they would employ local people as there would be no need for them to seek out cheap labour.