Sir – Full marks to Rose Hill volunteers and their tree planting project. Despite vandalism and people’s inability to tell a weed from a young tree they carry on.

But are they fighting a losing battle?

Then Abingdon College proudly announces its trees have been removed to ‘show off’ their ‘post-modern design’. Yes, I’m sure we are all impressed. I thought that trees helped provide the oxygen for the world, or is the campaign to stop deforestation of the Amazon just a ruse?

In the wider countryside, for three months of the year farmers flail hedges within an inch of their lives and a suggestion that perhaps some trees could be planted on the approach to the village resulted in the the general feeling – ‘the trouble is they get bigger and need maintenance’. So, good luck to all those who are concerned about our natural environment – just don’t get your hopes up.

S. Lockey (Mrs), Garsington