IN 1996 when I was chairman of the Wyre Forest Society, I wrote to the Earl of Cranbrook - the then chairman of English Nature - expressing the society's deeply felt fears for the future of the National Nature Reserve in Wyre Forest when its management was transferred to the Forestry Commission.

I had little faith in FC's genuine interest or capabilities in conservation.

In his reply stated: "The substantial enhancement in woodland and ride management achieved by John Robinson (then warden), under the NNR management plan is now self-sustaining".

In view of the recent and ongoing drastic ride widening by English Nature, I find myself questioning the integrity of this reply.

John Robinson always maintained that the rides would be managed on a 15-year rotation, thus giving a diversity of re-growth stages, providing ideal habitat for all species of wildlife.

So why change the management plan?

One reason I suspect, is that the commission is demanding this action as a prior condition to their taking over, so that their "management" becomes a relatively easy and inexpensive mowing operation.

Deer exclosures are now being fenced at no slight expense, with six foot high wire on tanalised posts, with two expensive gates to each exclosure.

This is supposedly to give protection to the desirable regeneration which takes place after clear-felling, from deer browsing.

John Robinson initiated deer exclosures in Wyre Forest with fences 4ft 6in high fencing on split oak posts, while seeking higher deer culls to reduce the herd.

Now, even he admits that the number of deer is at a level which presents no threat to regeneration - so why more wire?

Unlike the lower exclosures which were removed after 10-15 years, the have stated they will not be removing the higher exclosures (because of the expense involved) - ever.

This means that when the posts rot, the fences will collapse and areas will become impassable to humans and traps to wildlife.

Wyre Forest will become "Wire" Forest.

CM PAGETT

The Lakes Road

Bewdley