Sir, - Having been involved in some conservation work at Cod Beck reservoir I feel that Mr Shuttlewood's reply (D&S letters, Apr 9) to Mr Lindsay (D&S letters, Apr 2) calls for some comment.

Mr Shuttlewood refers to "evidence of the increasing strength of the fauna and flora due to the massive privately-funded conservation efforts of shooting tenants" with special reference to birds, which I am delighted to hear about.

However, other important conservation work has been and is being done in this area e.g. by volunteers such as Mr Lindsay in assisting the migration of some thousands of toads across the road to the reservoir, which is a very important migration site, and such efforts also deserve mention.

In this connection it should be noted that the annual toad migration route at about this time extends from the south end of the reservoir to the cattle grid north of the reservoir on the road to Swainby.

Numerous toads congregate on the road here and in the moorland along both sides of the road, so many may well be affected by moor fires in this area.

I feel that Mr Shuttlewood has adopted an unnecessarily aggressive tone. It would certainly be fool-hardy for a passer-by to "push their heads through the smoke" from acres of burning moor to see if they could help especially when, apparently, Mr Lindsay did not see anyone supervising the fires. Mr Lindsay's letter suggests that it was he who summoned the fire brigade - surely a much more sensible action.

I do agree, however, with Mr Shuttlewood's remarks about the dangers arising from the largely uncontrolled crowds of visitors, some of whom are a serious threat to this beautiful and sensitive area.

Clearly there is scope for improved co-operation between everyone, including the National Trust and the North York Moors National Park Authority, in their efforts to improve protection of the natural habitat.

GEORGE A MacDONALD

Farm Garth,

Great Ayton.

Criminals laughing

Sir, - If you were to ask the Home Office or its Storm Troopers (otherwise known as the Association of Chief Police Officers) if it had a hidden agenda to take every type of firearm off the members of the public in this country it would say it did not.

It would, of course, be lying through its teeth.

Look at its latest efforts to achieve the above. ACPO has told the Home Office that criminals are buying a certain type of air pistol and converting them to fire live rounds and then using these weapons whilst committing crimes. The police have not produced one shred of evidence to support these claims but they have told the Home Office to jump and the Home Office has said "how high".

The criminal element in this country can and do buy handguns, or indeed any type of firearm they want, as the police and the Home Office well know, without having to buy something and then go through the trouble of having it converted. These air pistols cost between £200-£250.

You will notice that again the police and Home Office are taking the easy way out of this supposed situation by punishing the innocent members of the public who own the above type of air weapon and not punishing the criminal misuse of it.

They have said that the owners must either hand the weapon in to the police (without any compensation), apply for a firearm's license (just like the criminal element would) or risk a five-year jail sentence if found to own such a weapon after the end of April.

This pretty pointless and malicious act will achieve nothing but get a few more shooters out of the system - just like ACPOs dictum that "a person must use their firearm six times a year at least or they will be harassed into giving up their weapon" or shooting clubs must have a minimum of so many members or they could lose their Home Office approved status if they have it.

None of these petty acts will have any effect on criminals' misuse of firearms. They will be laughing all the way to the bank, building society or post office.

P WEAVER

The Maltings,

Sowerby,

Thirsk.

Blooming idiocy

Sir, - Recently I saw two women each with a pail of soapy water walking the length and breadth of Marske Mill Lane, washing street nameplates and house names and numbers as they went.

As this was clearly in anticipation of the arrival of the judges for the "In Bloom" occasion, nothing could more clearly demonstrate the idiocy, insanity and crude stupidity that these non-events have engendered.

It is a pity that the vast amounts of time, energy and money frittered away in the pursuit of this nonsense could not be put to better use; volunteering in a hospital or hospice for example.

And, at £36 each for 500 hanging baskets, someone is doing rather well out of it.

However, I can suggest a certain way to win favour of those judges once and for all.

Those rusting ships from America that have been brought to Hartlepool to be cut up should instead be brought round the coast to Saltburn and then pulled up and scattered around the town.

Admittedly, there will probably be no grassy areas left and it may be need a row of houses or two to be demolished but that would be a small price to pay.

Once those hulks are filled to the brim with bedding plants - about 514 millions should do the trick - and painted in the regulatory red, yellow and blue, then "Saltburn in Bloom" will so amaze those judges that it will be the (pardon the pun) perennial winner of Northumbria in Bloom, Britain in Bloom, Nations in Bloom, The Universe in Bloom, The Bottom of a Coal-mine in Bloom or whatever.

No-one could compete with a display of such tact and aesthetic subtlety.

Moreover, if it ever became necessary to go for the sympathy vote again, there would be no need to resurrect the phantom plant-poisoner of East Cleveland: the great advantage of those rotting hulks is that they come ready-poisoned.

BRIAN KENNEDY

Gill Street,

Saltburn-by-the-Sea.