Sir, - The Celtic Tiger seems to have sunk its claws into what little remains of our natural heritage. Road construction through the Glen of the Downs, Co Wicklow, is set to cause significant damage to a valuable natural habitat.
Much of the area under threat enjoyed legal protection up until recently. It would seem that when it comes to the internal combustion engine, the laws of the State do not amount to much.
Our capital's beautiful rural hinterland is being slowly eroded. Sadly, it would appear that very few seem to care about such destruction. It is a shameful indictment of our society, that the defence of an ecological treasure as valuable as the Glen of the Downs has been left in the hands of a few hardy individuals, who are willing to brave the elements and live in treehouses, without an utterance of thanks from the populace at large.
I would like to extend a "thank you" to those individuals who have put the well-being of the environment ahead of their own well-being. They have not been completely forgotten. - Yours, etc.,
From Roger Kavanagh, M.Sc
Knocklyon Drive, Dublin 16.