Sir, – Michael Viney's article "'Zero tolerance' for farmers who wilfully destroy hedgerows" (Weekend, October *9*th) is timely in calling attention to the incredible value of these habitat corridors which criss- cross our countryside. These include carbon storage and sequestration, biodiversity enhancement, flood and wind control and more. Negotiations for the different component elements of "eco schemes" to be rewarded in the new CAP payments (Common Agriculture Policy) are in full swing, yet amazingly hedgerows do not feature in the draft proposals released by the Department of Agriculture. This represents a potentially serious omission given the strong evidence that high-quality hedgerows (tall, wide and with varied native species) can greatly contribute to our climate and biodiversity targets. We still have a lot of hedgerows left, despite the losses referred to in Michael Viney's article. Rewarding farmers for managing them well would be a win-win situation. – Yours, etc,
ALAN MOORE,
Fethard,
Co Tipperary.