SIR: I have just been through Raveden Woods to see if there have been any responses to my letter of March 22 (These tree stumps are vital) regarding the destruction of habitat of the woodpeckers, owls, bats etc. I see they have put some signs up about them being unsafe, and that is why they were felled, and, hopefully, that would be the end of the matter. Well, the general public are not as stupid as you may think. There are lots of people very concerned with what's happening to these woods in the guise of conservation. These trees are not as dangerous as you say. Most of them are nowhere near the paths and to cut branches off lime trees at the worst possible time of year, when the sap is rising, is beyond belief, for people who are supposed to know what they are doing. It looks to me as if they know very little about woodland management. So I challenge them to give a proper explanation to the people who use these woods and the readers of the BEN. Have you not thought of putting up a sign warning people of so-called falling trees, and that they enter at their own risk? I'm sure we would all understand.

Instead of destroying a perfectly good habitat, if you are looking for things to do, you could put up plenty of nest boxes for all sorts of birds and bats, and do some real conservation work, instead of playing at it.

Also the lake near the hall needs cleaning out - or is that too much like real work?

A despondent nature lover.

Steven I Brendel,

Mackenzie Street,

Astley Bridge, Bolton.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.