ARE your readers aware, I wonder, that in a matter of a few weeks the chainsaws will be moving in and we will lose the woodland behind the Congregational Church on Church Road, Cam forever.

St Modwen, the developers of the former Lister's site say that the bank on which the trees stand is contaminated and must go if they are to open up the River Cam

But if money was spent the trees could stay and the river be opened up. Why is this happening when SWERDA (the site owners) said that significant existing landscape and wildlife features would stay ?

The woodland is home to many woodland birds including tawny owls, treecreepers and green woodpeckers (to name but a few), it's also home to slow worms, foxes, badgers, deer and grey squirrels. It forms a backdrop to the Congregational Church and a major landscape feature of this part of Cam.

Does anyone care?

If so please write to the developers NOW (and copy your letter to as many others as possible including David Drew MP and Stroud Council). Time is running short so please do it now, let's shame them into reconsidering and putting their money where there mouth is.

Jill McFarland Cam