Like Isabella Tree (Lockdown awakened our interest in nature, but it mustn’t be at the expense of wildlife, 28 December), I have also been struck by the disconnection between the lockdown eulogies about “nature” but the indifference to the fate of “wildlife”.
I live in London, where locals are grateful to have open spaces and access to nature. But my local common is now crisscrossed with newly created paths, penetrating areas previously left aside for wildlife. Walkers ignore notices to avoid these, and many allow their dogs to chase birds and squirrels.
Separating the idea of nature from wildlife is hugely problematic. Boris Johnson is full of fine words about nature and how this government will protect it. But the reality is that, under this government’s stewardship, an avalanche of damaging developments have been unleashed, destroying important habitats. This includes the allocation of 6,000 houses to the precious peatland of Carrington Moss; permission for ecologically destructive road-building like the Wensum link in Cambridgeshire; and permission to industrialise Kent’s last wilderness, Graveney Marshes. HS2 is the ultimate symbol of what is happening across the country – ancient woodlands and important habitats bulldozed causing immense grief to the locals who love them.
Johnson has said he won’t let “the newt counters” get in the way of development, but if we can’t save the newts, we can’t save nature.
Prof Ros Coward
London
• Isabella Tree notes that while we need more access to nature, human impact jeopardises what nature we have. There is a way to resolve this. There used to be something called outdoor education. People, especially the young, were able to learn to “take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but thanks”. Benefits of outdoor education would include teaching people navigational skills so that they can read maps and stick to paths, and minimising the totally avoidable pressures put on Mountain Rescue teams by lack of proper equipment and preparation.
I used to train outdoor leaders for a national qualification until 2007, since when training funds from the Education and Skills Funding Agency could go only to those bodies that can take on contracts of at least £500,000 – which deftly excluded nearly all providers of outdoor leader training.
Chris Johnson
Secretary, Bradford Expedition Leaders Association
