AS I approach the last years of my long life I would like to believe that one of the things I have done is to help to alleviate the problem of the survival of two sections of the wonderful wildlife in this lovely land of ours.

I am referring to our red squirrel population and our birdlife.

Trying to keep our birds alive is a truly full-time occupation.

One of the factors I have the greatest difficulty with is the grey squirrel population. No matter what I do I cannot prevent them from stealing the bird food – they are an absolute pest.

I can only see one plan of action which would be to eradicate the grey squirrel and replace it with our lovely native red squirrel.

It is difficult to believe now, but as a boy one of my greatest pleasures was to be able to watch red squirrels and also adder snakes living their lives on Highcliffe Common, now greatly reduced in size.

EWER HENTALL, Southampton.