New paths

SIR, - It saddens me to see continuing negativity shown with regard to the exciting Woodland Trust project in Sandridge, as displayed by last week's correspondent, Mr Alastair Woodgate.

I have been a resident in Sandridge for over 20 years and as such have enjoyed all the surrounding walks many times over with babies, toddlers, teenagers and currently dogs. The views are lovely but the access to these areas is extremely limited, particularly since in recent months some of the Permissive Rights have been withdrawn and although there are a number of routes, they link up inadequately.

The purchase of this previously-closed-off farmland by the Woodland Trust enables all of us to enjoy more of the surrounding natural landscape. I am delighted to discover that the Trust have immediately opened up some areas and I have in fact already walked some of it - to the delight of myself and the dog! When these areas are planted it will be equally enjoyable, just different.

It is a fantastic legacy for the future when in so many areas trees are being cut down to make way for development and many of our natural paths have been "enhanced" with hardcore surfaces, giving the overall impression of an urbanised environment.

Perhaps, Mr Woodgate has a point though - maybe the Woodland Trust could purchase some of the land at Park Street in addition to the Sandridge project and give both ends of the district some wonderful new accessible space.

VAL CARR,

Northside, Sandridge.