I was surprised when I read that litter pickers on Shotover were being given firewood in return for their labours. I thought that it was illegal to remove any organic material from woodland. I seem to remember that, within recent years, someone was taken to court for collecting firewood.

Oxford Mail: Credenhill Park Wood could be under new plans according to the Woodland Trust.

Woodland relies on decomposing material, says Derrick Holt

If it is illegal, there is a good reason for that. There is only a certain amount of nutrient in woodland and that gets constantly recycled. With removal of wood or leaf litter, that nutrient is lost.

All dead things decompose and provide nutrients for the plants and food for bacteria, fungi, invertebrates and vertebrates alike and, of course, shelter and home for many of them.

It also surprises me that grass mowings, prunings and dead plant material are put out for refuse collectors.

This material will, in turn, get composted by the council who then sell it to others.

There are many types of compost bins from small (wormeries) to the very large which will not only dispose of garden waste but also any paper or card and kitchen waste that you have (not meat). Failing a compost bin, it does no harm to spread anything organic under hedge bottoms or shrubs.

Where I have large pieces of wood, I stack them out of sight at the bottom of the garden where, as they decompose, I notice that the pile attracts wood lice newts and who knows what else?

DERRICK HOLT

Fortnam Close

Headington