The killing fields

Henry Porter’s assertion in his brilliant but sadly depressing article that “the vanishing swifts from the sky above my shed are a sad omen” is indeed true (Comment, last week). What is equally sad is that few people are taking the fact of the disappearance of much of our insect and wildlife seriously.

Locally, Labour councillors insist on building housing developments on the very fields from where they are disappearing. In articles and letters, people want developers and government to build on the green belt. However, this is an ecological emergency and there are alternatives: brownfield sites, empty houses and it is possible to build low-rise in the cities and towns. But no one is interested, least of all the Labour party, which is far more conservative on the issue than Michael Gove.

Stephen Dorril

Netherthong, West Yorkshire