SIR – When I was a young lad I lived in the Golden Valley area.

There were about ten youngsters of my age, we used to spend a lot of time in the school holidays on the common, and at the millpond.

We used to fish with our home made rods, a bean stick and bent pin. We also swam in the pond. It was always a popular place for visitors to picnic.

But no more, killed off by too many signs, ‘Don’t park here’, ‘Don’t fish’, and now you are not always able to walk round the pond because of some fencing at each end.

The huge clumps of gorse have gone, probably mown by the Hills Trust, leaving the yellowhammers and stonechats with nowhere to nest.

The hill paths are in a state and the woodland is neglected. I worked on these hills and commons for 40 years, 20 years as a foreman, why has it all got into such a state?

The work force are a dedicated group of men, always have been. I believe the problem lies at the top.

The trust don’t own the commons, it all belongs to the people!

BC Loader

Malvern