I READ with some disappointment Terry Vincent’s letter regarding elements of the debate over the county council and Nature England’s plans for Hartlebury Common.

I have used the common over the past 30 years principally for walking my dogs.

His deliberations over the county council’s intentions on badgers, dog walkers, cattle etc are somewhat myopic.

What is being attempted at the common in order to comply with the county council’s statutory obligations is a complete overhaul of the nature of the common in an attempt to ‘return’ the area to ‘heathland’ from its present status as woodland and heathland.

Is Mr Vincent aware that to effect this, 90 per cent (the county council’s estimate, not mine) of the trees on the common are to be felled?

The perimeter has been fenced and water troughs plumbed in order to provide water for the cattle, along with a cattle grid, gates etc.

I am advised that none of the expenditure is coming from the public purse.

Anyone who is so minded should visit the common and assess for themselves the present vandalism (and the proposed extent of the 90 per cent of trees still to be felled).

Various schemes have been implemented over the years –the folly in the middle of the upper level of the huge pines, and the stripping off of large areas to encourage the growth of heather which has been going on for 20 years, but is soon to disappear when the cattle arrive.

Public monies have been continually wasted on maintaining car parks prior to hard surfacing etc.

We are quite rightly continually being urged to be environmentally friendly – schemes such as plant a tree.

Mr Vincent should try and raise his considerations higher than the merits of cattle droppings over dog faeces and deliberate over the fate of many of the bird species when the trees have gone – not to mention the beautiful butterflies, bees etc.

Sorry Mr Vincent, you, like a lot of people, have been and are continuing to be conned.

The lunatics have taken over the asylum and ultimately my money is on mother nature.

F PEXTON Quail Park Drive, Kidderminster