I WAS interested reading the letter you published concerning the state of the metal railings around the Dingle spare ground.

I myself was the publicity officers for five years with a conservation group in the 1980s, and we did work at country parks, nature reserves, etc, doing jobs such as dry stone walling, coppicing, etc, but not in this part of the UK.

Talking of nature reserves in particular, none of the reserves resembled the Dingle, in a nature reserve stock is taken of all the natural plants in situ and apart from controlling invasive plants and some tree planting, most of the plants are preserved.

I do not believe any such survey was taken in the Dingle? In thhe photo, from the small rock in the foreground to the third railing support, plants from outside have been planted in that spot, a few Forget-Me-Not’s did exist but it’s clear this ground has been disturbed and previous non-existing plants put in place.

I wonder whoever did this planting was aware that Bluebells were growing in the very spot previously and did they also know it is illegal to dig up Bluebell bulbs or pick the flowers as they are a protected species? Apparently not.

I have seen Bluebells in that small area for years and one thing you do not do to a nature reserve is to desecrate the very ground you’re trying to preserve.

D Dolby

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