SIR - People might be surprised to know that gardens are classified as brownfield sites in planning law.

Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells, tabled an Early Day Motion to have gardens removed from the definition of being brownfield sites.

This was signed by 174 MPs. However, following Government objections, the motion failed.

After an outcry from people and local councils about the impact of wide-scale garden grabbing, a new Early Day Motion was launched in early January.

Garden grabbing is a practice where property developers snap up mainly large detached houses, knock them down and then squeeze a small estate of new homes onto the same plot, or even any garden land where they theink they may obtain planning permission.

This erosion of Britain's green spaces is made possible by a loophole in the law which sees gardens defined as brownfield sites, making them ripe for development.

To its credit, our city council has fought off such developments in various parts of Worcester over the last few years, but this may become increasingly more difficult without more public support.

There is a national campaign against garden grabbing. The next reading of the Bill is on Friday, June 15.

If you feel you could offer your support to this campaign please log on to the website and sign the petition, or write to you MP (there is a sample letter on web page). The website can be found at www.gar denorganic.org.uk/saveourgardens/index.php A F & M C Baylis, Worcester.