Slimbridge
Sir: Mr Scott (Letters, May 6) does not refute my main point, which was that at Slimbridge there exists, for the curiosity of the public, a collection of birds, many with their wings clipped to prevent their escape, many from climates far warmer than wet, cold (in winter, anyway) Gloucestershire.
He attempts to justify this by the old plea of scientific necessity, a plea which has been used in some horrific contexts in recent history and indeed can be used to justify almost anything.
I think it's fine to be interested in ducks and geese (or stamps, or railway engines) and with it obviously goes the urge to collect. What made me crotchety (I could have used a stronger word) was what seemed to me the hypocrisy of penning up a lot of birds and at the same time lecturing visitors about the importance of wildlife being wild.
I find I am most always crotchety when patronised by duck-fanciers.
Clive Gammon 7 Havergal Close. Caswell Bay, Swansea
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