I MUST support 100 per cent the comments made by John Robinson regarding the proposed cycle-way in Wyre Forest (Shuttle/Times and News Letters, April 10).

I thought at the time I read the original comments by Rob Williams of English Nature (Shuttle/Times and News, March 27), that mountain-bikers would be among the people to benefit from being able to see the small pearl-bordered fritillary, this was a cynical method of trying to justify English Nature's "rape" of the Hitterhill and Town Coppice areas of our forest.

Mr Williams is also on record as saying in justification of this desecration, that Wyre Forest has no conservation value whatsoever, except for two or three species of invertebrates.

Surely Wyre Forest has an intrinsic conservation value for the "quiet contemplation of nature" and the peace and quiet of an ancient English forest, which these days is constantly disturbed by mountain-bikers.

They are not interested in observing nature. They do not want organised cycle-ways. They constantly disregard notices to avoid sensitive areas and seek out the roughest, least disturbed areas for their thrills, and pollute the forest with their shouts and screams as they hurtle through the undergrowth.

I am not against cyclists of any description entering Wyre Forest to enjoy, peacefully, its refreshing air and gentle by-ways, but I cannot accept that lycra-clad mountain-bikers are the least bit interested in this aspect and, as far as saying that they will be able to observe the small pearl-bordered fritillary during their forays is nonsense.

This rare butterfly is not guaranteed to return to Wyre Forest in any numbers, despite the vastly expensive clearance of large areas of ancient woodland. It is very much an experiment.

C PAGETT

The Lakes Road

Bewdley