I AM someone who still lives in the home where I was born nearly 70 years ago.

Indeed as a family we moved in here in 1930 and our connection to the New Forest goes back centuries.

We even have Whig (early Liberal) MPs within the family tree representing Lymington.

You have covered the issue of whether people should be fined for starting camp fires in the New Forest and petting ponies.

I fully agree any fire is a danger and must not be allowed. However, ponies are privately owned and their owners are responsible for them.

The public are encouraged to be animal lovers and find comfort in their friendship.

Most animals, if you treat them with respect they will normally do the same towards you.

I have never been attacked by any forest animal. Then again, I know when to keep my distance.

I do believe the public ought to be continue to be told not to feed the ponies – in case it disagrees with their diet.

I am also against tree clearance, unless it is proven they are causing an obstruction or potentially will do so.

In the meantime we here (Burley) have lost our bus services; the railway station at Holmsley; hardly any police presence; far fewer shops; a lot of us are not on main drainage.We have seen the loss of ditches, hedgerow and – worse of all – wildlife.

We are under attack from the Solent Freeport area. Plus, BCP to the west.

Why? Because we left the EU. The European Union encouraged protection of nature. Do you?

RICHARD GRANT

Burley