Leave The Bittern In Peace

IN your report on the proposed Ely Country Park, you say that Mr Tyrrell who owns one of the Pits that could be included in the park, is keen to see a Bittern reserve at the Pit, and also hopes to get the designation of the pit as a site of special sci

IN your report on the proposed Ely Country Park, you say that Mr Tyrrell who owns one of the Pits that could be included in the park, is "keen" to see a Bittern reserve at the Pit, and also "hopes to get the designation of the pit as a site of special scientific interest (SSI) overturned". Now, if he is so keen for a Bittern reserve, why does he want the SSI overturned?

The SSI was awarded by Natural England, the Government body responsible for seeing that the rare and beautiful in the 'natural' (ie wild) world, in the country are protected enough to be able to continue their lives. These designations are only given after careful and serious scientific investigation and we should all be proud that we have in our care, right on our doorstep, a rare and handsome creature that typifies the fens that surround us. They need water, reed beds and peace and quiet, so the SSI was put in place to protect the Bittern. Without doing anything more, and by leaving it in peace, we already have Bittern Reserve.

HILARY VAN DE WATERING

St Mary's Court

Ely