Sir – Anyone who trespassed with any regularity on Ruskin College’s fields would know that the metal fencing (Letters, June 9) has been there for years — it had nothing to do with me.
The college evicted travellers from its fields in 1999 and reinforced its fencing both then and for subsequent grazing. Nor does our further strengthening of our already very clear boundaries relate to planning matters.
It was put in motion as soon as recent sporadic trespassing was brought to my attention because we are a working college and I have a duty of care to our students.
I gave our near neighbour, Sue Shaw (Letters, June 9) permission to pick apples from one of our trees. I’m sorry now to learn that she has been annually taking the blackberries to accompany them in the traditional pie.
Ruskin is working collaboratively with local people to revive our historic walled garden and once again to grow produce there. Anyone who comes politely to our front door — as I would to theirs — is more than welcome to join us.
Now can we please put to rest this self-serving intervention from a mere handful of privileged folk. We should be focusing on the thousands who have nowhere to live.
Professor Audrey Mullender, Principal, Ruskin College
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