RE: MR Hall's attack upon tree planting and trees in general. He says that trees are high maintenance.

In fact, a mature tree in a healthy condition only needs the occasional inspection by way of maintenance.

The pavements are swept, so any accumulation of the leaves are the road sweepers' neglect and not the trees. Grass on the other hand needs to be cut fortnightly and bedding plants need to be planted and dug up twice a year, weeded regularly, deadheaded and fertilised.

Mature trees will not affect his foundations. In fact each tree, according to its species and size, will take up to 80 gallons of water from the soil a day. If these trees were removed Mr Hall's foundations would rise, causing severe damage.

Trees are good for us, they soften the ugly edifices that we build. They make driving on the motorway a pleasure... compare the tree-lined M4 with the boring M11. They are beautiful, massive, ancient and have witnessed much. Let's have more trees, let's leave them to grow into their full glory.

STEPHEN THOMPSON

Norman Road, Swindon

PS: Hugging trees is very therapeutic and I recommend it to all.