Penny Little’s comments, regarding ‘rural vandalism’ (Oxford Mail, May 13) about Larsen traps, appear at odds with the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, which describes itself as “the leading UK charity conducting scientific research to enhance the British countryside for public benefit.”

The organisation claims: “For over 75 years, we have been researching and developing game and wildlife management techniques. We provide training and advice to farmers, gamekeepers and land managers on how best to improve the biodiversity of the countryside.’’ So, not being knowledgeable (yet ) about the trust, I’ll temporarily withhold comment.

Perhaps Penny could comment with any known facts about this organisation.

Her comments about council machines destroying hedgerows I fully support. Over the years we have seen hedgerows and other roadside wild growth mechanically cut to uniform height and width. Apart from Penny’s comments about the detrimental effect on cow parsley, insects, the bird and bee population, and just purely from a visual point of view, who the hell wants to walk, cycle, take the bus or drive past roadside vegetation that is of consistent height and width, and which has a distinctly grotty looking unfinished look?

Too many town garden peripheries look like this, and we don’t want the countryside looking the same way.

It is wild or semi-wild, and it should look that way.

All the subsequent destruction only shows that those carrying out this work have little or no knowledge about the countryside. Perhaps the council manager could illuminate us on their inadequate ‘training programme’.

Mick Heavey, Oxford Road, Old Marston, Oxford