IN response to Mr Isaccson when he states that even though I have lived in Ely 11 years I have only seen one bittern , does this not show you how important Roswell pits are for wildlife? There are only 30 breeding pairs of bittern in this country, 10 of

IN response to Mr Isaccson when he states 'that even though I have lived in Ely 11 years I have only seen one bittern', does this not show you how important Roswell pits are for wildlife?

There are only 30 breeding pairs of bittern in this country, 10 of which are in Norfolk. The UK population had declined to 13 booming pairs in 1998 from a peak of 80 breeding pairs in 1954. The bittern is confined to lowland marshes in Norfolk, Suffolk and Lancashire.

I have, in my 49 years, been lucky enough to have seen a total of five bitterns, one of which was at Roswell pits. Unless we protect the habitat of this secretive bird which is more often heard booming than seen, then our children and grandchildren are not going to be so lucky.

I, for one, will fight for the right of everyone to enjoy the wildlife of this country today and in the future by speaking out to protect it.

CLIVE BAKER

Norfolk Road

Ely