Letter of the Week

OVER recent weeks it has been good to read that so many people are very passionate about Kinver Edge and prepared to put pen to paper.

I live a stone's throw away and visit the area every day. These are my thoughts on the trees that have been felled: Firstly, all "countryside" is managed, from the mountains in North Wales to the grouse moors in Yorkshire.

Kinver Edge, with its range of habitat, supports far more wildlife than if it was just woodland.

Linnets, yellowhammers, tree pipits, goldfinches, stonechats, all benefit from the heath land - any bird watcher who visits will confirm that.

Birds of prey also benefit using the sparse trees as look out posts, most can be seen hunting. Kestrel, sparrowhawk, buzzard and on an evening, tawny owls.

Anyone who has visited at dusk will see woodcock who, again, benefit from the "gaps" in the woodland.

It is a very specialist habitat, supporting both adders and lizards, which are becoming very rare.

I would urge anyone who is against the tree cutting to visit on a summer's night at dusk or at dawn and sit and be patient, watch and listen.

You will see wildlife that would not be there if it was just woodland, not to mention the rare grasses that also grow there.

Heathland in our area is so rare that it must be protected at all costs.

To the people who are against the tree felling and remember the trees have only been cut in one small area on the whole site, I would ask them to look up heathland in the area and find out how important it is and how important to wildlife, that we have such a diverse landscape, do this before criticizing so many hard working volunteers who give there time to try and keep the Edge such a fascinating area.

Stop thinking about what you want for the Edge and think about what all those creatures need as without it being managed they would not be there and we would lose them from the area.

Andy Merrick Kinver Congratulations, you're this week's Letter of the Week. Call into our St John's Road offices with some form of ID to collect your FREE 250ml bottle of Latzimas Extra Virgin Olive Oil.