Once again there is little or no attempt made to protect our local internationally protected heath land habitats.

Fifty years ago the threat was development. That threat still exists but as long as the site under consideration has protected species living on it the development cannot be put into effect.

Today the threat comes not from developers but from a totally unexpected quarter and comes from youths with boxes of matches not machines.

The fragile heath which takes 50 years to mature is highly flammable and one match and one wind and the fire can spread at the speed of a running horse and no fire brigade can put in out in time to prevent hectares of heath from vanishing into dust.

So go out and have a look yourself at the acres of brunt heath that will not recover in your lifetime and think about what you can do to help.

Not a single person has been reported or prosecuted for starting these fires.

It is about time things changed.

Douglas Mills

Fraser Road, Poole