Letter: Hedgerow removal plan wrong
The idea to remove seven miles of traditional British hedgerow on a farm near Chirbury is not simply wrong but obscene and outright vandalism on a grand scale.
What any of us needs to remember when buying in to our countryside is that we are only temporary custodians of that land. It is our responsibility to care for it for future generations to come and for the benefit of our native British wildlife. When it's gone, it's gone.
Anyone with a traditional hedge in their garden made up of hawthorn, blackthorn, crab apple, guelder rose, dog rose, wild privet, honeysuckle, hazel, field maple and holly is aware what wildlife that supports. A modest length of 30 metres of hedgerow is a massive wildlife haven throughout the seasons.
Imagine what would be lost if this vandalism of seven miles of hedgerow was permitted to take place?
Leaving so-called odd bits of hedging which would possibly amount to around 1.8m in length in the odd area does not compensate for the loss of seven miles of hedgerow and the wildlife habitat it supports.
Andrew Finch
Wattlesborough
