No right to kill wildlife heritage
AT last the lighter nights are here and parents and grandparents will be able to get our children and grandchildren away from the television and computer and take them for long walks in our beautiful countryside.
As townies, we will be able to show our youngsters the skylark, the kestrel and maybe even an owl at dusk. We will be able to show them the colours of the hedgerows and trees surrounding the fields, and perhaps the antics of the mad "March" hare.
Well, that's me living in the past. Could I ask you the next time you are travelling from Great Coates to Healing, to Stallingbrough, to Immingham, to Killingholme, to take a look either side and note that mile after mile of hedgerow has been ripped up by greedy, selfish, arable farmers with the aid of Mrs Thatcher.
This hedgerow is a natural environment for much of our country wildlife. How many people were lucky enough to see hares in our springtime fields?
I can tell you if you do happen to see one, he isn't just mad in March – he's furious all the year round because of the destruction his natural environment.
When was the last time you saw a kestrel hovering above our fields looking for his dinner?
We hear about the urban fox coming into our towns, attacking our children's pets and ransacking our wheelie bins.
Hunting supporters will tell us townies that it's because of the ban in fox hunting and the growing number of foxes, which is nonsense.
It is because of the actions of greedy, selfish arable farmers.
The foxes' natural food is being destroyed by the over-use of pesticides so the fox is having to visit us townies for his dinner.
For the last four weeks I've heard the heartbreaking sound of a thrush singing for hour upon hour in the vain attempt to attract a non-existent mate.
So come on, Mr Farmer, you are only looking after our countryside on a temporary measure. Give our children and grandchildren a country packed with wildlife.
Replant the hedgerows and stop the over use of pesticides.
Then – and only then – can you criticise us townies.
Concerned townie (name and address supplied).
4 Comments
by Stovaa, Countryside
Wednesday, April 22 2009, 6:04PM
“Apparently, the countryside is a conservation area that exists to carry townies and cityfolk between towns and cities, and also to allow them to take their children and wander around looking at wildlife.
Which is there, I know because I see it. So when you say "no it's not there it's all gone damn farmers", you're lying out your townie backside. Urban expansion is the reason for urban foxes, because you keep putting housing estates in fields.
Personally, I think we should knock down Freshney Place and build a lot of small family-owned shops, so I can bring my children and grandchildren to look at them.
Oh, and one more thing:
"So come on, Mr Farmer, you are only looking after our countryside on a temporary measure. Give our children and grandchildren a country packed with wildlife."
Farmers need to make a living too you know, and fields filled with foxes, kestrels, mice etc may sound very romantic and nice, but this is the real world, not Watership Down. The world is not there for you to look at it, it's a living breathing place where people need to make a living.
Please, go back inside and stop romanticising the world with your rose-tinted glasses of idiocy.”
by Will, New Forest
Wednesday, April 22 2009, 4:13PM
“It was the farmers that have built and cared for our gorgeous countryside over generations. They should be praised and supported. Also, Long live the hunt!”
by Andrew, Braga
Wednesday, April 22 2009, 6:58AM
“In answer to the questions in the letter, I saw all of the things mentioned the last time I was in the UK, which was summer 2008. (Apart of course from the March hare as is wasn't March, but I did see hares,) You just need to know where to look.”
by John, Grimsby
Tuesday, April 21 2009, 9:31AM
“And for those of us without rose coloured glasses that live in our already over-populated land - Thanks to all those "greedy, selfish arable farmers" who put food on our table that does not arrive on an aeroplane.”