Don Vincent describes Kashmir as 'a bit of barren scrubland' (Letters, June 19)

Curiously, though, the great Persian poet Sheikh Sadia (c1213 - c1291) wrote of the lake-filled, richly fertile former top tourist attraction that, "If there is any heaven on earth, it is here in Kashmir ."

I wonder who is right - Mr Vincent from Winyates East or the renowned Iranian poet and scholar who lived and travelled in the region?

PS: Both my cats, Marmite and Rosie, laughed like drains when they read Mr Vincent's assertion that songbirds have "only one serious enemy - it walks on two legs and is called Man."

Howard Bellaby

Badger Brook Lane

Astwood Bank