I CONGRATULATE your correspondent, ffinlo Costain, in getting his letter (June 13) in before me.

During the recent glorious weather I have enjoyed walking the narrow country roads behind Cardross, where the verges were at their peak of lush and colourful growth after a winter of being deeply rutted by drivers too impatient to wait for other vehicles to pass. Last evening’s walk was spoiled by the depressing trail of destruction left by Argyll & Bute Council in its zeal to "tidy up" the verges. Not only have we lost a multitude of wild flowers, including purple orchids, all invaluable to pollinating insects and now cut down before being able to set seed, the roadside bushes and trees have also been flailed into a tangle of broken branches. One wonders what may have happened to any resident nesting or fledgling birds?

This was a completely irresponsible act by our council and I would urge them to make proper consultation of current best practice in the treatment of roadside verges. A good place to start might be the website of the charity Plantlife. Proper control of roadside weeds in built-up areas can be accepted but the "official" destruction of our natural heritage is a different matter entirely.

Bob Murray,

6 Napier Avenue, Cardross, Dumbarton.