HAVE YOUR SAY ON RURAL ISSUES
Share your views and opinions by writing to us at:
Have your say: BBC Countryfile Magazine, Eagle House, Bristol BS1 4ST; or email editor@countryfile.com, tweet us @CountryfileMag or via Facebook facebook.com/countryfilemagazine
*We reserve the right to edit correspondence
LETTER OF THE MONTH
Let’s go native
Having read your very interesting and informative November issue, I feel that I must point out that, on page 50 of the article entitled ‘How to reforest the UK’, the mention of sycamore as a sustainable species for the future is erroneous. Not only is sycamore non-native, but it is highly invasive, with its seeds becoming an ever-increasing problem – in gardens, parks and in the wild. There are better native examples to give as key trees for the future.
The mention of the wild service tree is timely; this is one of the trees that I planted in my large garden 22 years ago and it is very beautiful and interesting, indeed. Bedfordshire also has one of the oldest wild service trees in Maulden Great Wood – the tree even has its own signpost from the main thoroughfare through the wood, its own information board next to it, and a lovely bench to sit on underneath it!
The lime tree is also one I planted in my garden 22 years ago and it has the most beautiful yellow leaves in late autumn. When the sun shines through the leaves, it’s as though you have your own light-box display.
Finally, if you must have an acer to choose as a key tree for the future you cannot do better, in my opinion, than our own native field maple. They are hardy
*We reserve the right to edit correspondence and grow into varied and interesting shapes, the golden-yellow leaves that they produce in autumn are second to none and they are truly magnificent and uplifting, as well as being worthy of growing for the exquisite and finely cut shape of their leaves alone. Doug Landman, Bedfordshire
Editor Fergus Collins replies:
Thanks for this fascinating insight. The mention of the sycamore was in relation to the loss of ash trees due to dieback. For many ecologists and arborists, the sycamore could occupy a similar ecological niche to the ash and so mitigate some of the heartbreaking losses.
THE PRIZE:
This month’s star letter wins a Cotopaxi Tarak 20L Backpack, Del Día, worth £100. Designed for climbing, hiking and back country skiing, this is a hard-working pack made from ripstop nylon with a zippered top lid, a hydration sleeve and a removable waist belt, plus plenty of lash points for your kit. Each Tarak is made with repurposed materials, so no two bags are the same colourway. uk.cotopaxi.com
COUNTRYFILE CALENDAR CHARITY
Can anyone answer why the money from the sales of the Countryfile Calendar goes to the Children in Need appeal? While I agree this is a worthy cause, this charity does receive a lot of money from other quarters.
I have often wondered if the BBC would instead direct the funds from the calendar to the many charities that do lots of work in the countryside and really struggle for funds – Butterfly Conservation, Buglife, Freshwater Habitats Trust and so on. I admit these charities are ones I support, but there are myriad others that desperately need an injection of cash.
Jane Lomas, series editor of Countryfile replies:
Countryfile has a long association with the BBC charity, Children in Need, which supports over 2,200 charities and projects in local communities throughout the UK – including rural projects. Across the year, Countryfile also reflects the work of countless other rural charities in the UK. Thanks to our viewers’ generosity, we have raised millions of pounds to make a difference to the lives of children and young people in communities the length and breadth of the UK. And we cannot thank them enough.
RESPECT FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE
Having read Graeme Pierson’s response to my letter regarding river access for children (October), it makes me even sadder to read a mostly negative viewpoint of people’s attitude to the countryside.
I used to be an angler, too, spending many childhood years up to my waist, floating bread flake down the river, catching dace and chubb in the shallows at Muscliffe on the Stour.
When I grew older, and maybe slightly wiser, I swam in the Red Sea among the marine life and it opened my eyes. The fish show no fear. They are inquisitive children dancing in iridescent joy. I cannot bring myself to hook them any more.
I totally understand the issues Graeme raised – fly tipping, littering and abusive behavior is a curse for us all. But this can be exacerbated by the ‘us and them’ mentality, aggravated by the barbed wire and fences. They are a short-term solution. How about a more positive approach? The children of today are the guardians of tomorrow.
Look at the adventures of Lucy Edwards, who the BBC showed going on a safari to Kenya to experience the glorious wildlife of the African savanna. She was shown so much love and care to help her see, even though she is blind.
This uplifting example shows the way forward. Welcome the children into your barricaded paradise. Show them the love. Show them positivity. Show them what they need to do. Respect is taught with love. Not inflicted by deprivation.
Cliff Harrison, via email
CAMPAIGN FOR SAFER BOTHIES
A couple of weeks ago, I visited a bothy with a friend. As we began to look around and explore the building, I heard my dog eating something. To my horror, it was rat poison that had been left in a pan under a bench. She would have died had we not seen what she was eating and rushed her to the nearest vet for emergency treatment.
The bothy is not owned by the Mountain Bothies Association (MBA), but is owned and managed by an organisation claiming to be affiliated with the MBA. I have also contacted them to seek their advice. My intention is to understand best practice and to work with the organisation to improve the bothy.
I would also like to start a campaign to make people aware of the hidden dangers when using bothies and how we can all take better care of them to stop something like this from happening.
I have returned to the bothy to do a mini clean and make safe the rat poison. I have contacted the responsible organisation, which is interested in working with me to clean up the bothy properly.
I have made and shared a video on my YouTube channel so people know what happened and to start raising awareness. I’ve created the hashtag #bebothered for the campaign.
Catherine Convey, via email
Editor Fergus Collins replies:
You have done a grand job of raising this issue. From personal experience, I know bothies generally have a few rodents making the most of any waste food, but poison is not the way to deal with them. There is a bothy local to me where all food is hung on string from the ceiling beams in an attempt to keep the mice at bay. It seems to work.
Plodcast power
As an ardent fan of the Plodcast, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your recent Plodcast 171 with Dominic Couzens; I totally agree with your team member Hannah ’s comments afterwards about how much she liked hearing about some easier ways to remember some of the bird songs. This is still an area that I struggle with, although I have found using a recognition app to be very useful when out walking, although infuriating for any walking partners who “just want to get on”. As you say Fergus, it really does begin to get a bit easier after time and I have been able to identify birds correctly before the app has finished working. More Dominic episodes, please! My father died recently and I cannot tell you how important birdsong and the sounds of nature have been to me. He died peacefully at home and I opened the bedroom windows shortly afterwards to the sound of a robin singing its heart out in the gathering dusk. Your Sound Escapes were also so comforting as I lay awake at nights unable to sleep. I cannot think of any person who would not benefit from a few moments of communing with nature.
Editor Fergus Collins replies:
Thank you for this moving email and your kind words. I am so pleased you have found solace in the Plodcast and the Sound Escapes.