I’m sure that my colleagues on Springwatch will have their own thoughts regarding Ros Coward’s article (Springwatch gives succour to our souls, but should it do more?, 26 May). However, her rather odd sideswipe at Countryfile is misjudged.
She suggests that in a recent edition from the Colne valley we neglected to mention the threat from HS2; however, the reason – quite simply – is that only a matter of weeks previously we had comprehensively covered the environmental impact of the rail project in a report from the Chilterns. This was by no means the first time that we have featured HS2 and it won’t be the last.
Regular viewers will know that, as part of its rural agenda, Countryfile reports regularly on the UK’s loss of biodiversity – hence our two-year environmental initiative, Plant Britain. Launched last autumn, this is already enjoying significant success, both in raising awareness of the challenges that confront us and encouraging people to do something positive to address them.
Bill Lyons
Executive editor, Countryfile
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