These nine photographs show the everyday type of destruction that is going on all around us to take away our natural green scenery. These pictures are of Long Road, Comberton, Cambridgeshire, and you can see that a relatively old hedge is being hauled out to the core, I suppose so that the run-off drainage channel does not get blocked. The beautiful hedge, made up of Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Crab Apple, Bramble, Wild Plum, Ash, Horse Chestnut and other woody shrubs, has had its guts ripped out, and the banks laid bare. There is a 150 yard stretch still standing, but I am sure this will also disappear in the next few days. In that 150 yard stretch I counted 14 bird nests of various sizes and make-up (this year’s). Whilst photographing, I saw a Wren, Blue tit, Great tit, Blackbird and a lone Fieldfare (most unusual). Over the years this hedge has provided food, a breeding place and shelter for local and over-wintering birds. The water is running through the existing bit of hedge and overgrowth extremely well, so pulling out the hedge completely seems a bit OTT to me. It is a sad day for Comberton’s natural history. But recorded here for posterity!!! Can all people with valuable green spaces and scenery take photographs of it now, so that future generations can see what a once very green and pleasant land we had. I have lived in Comberton for over 46 years and am slowly dying inside because each time I venture out and around I see that trees have been chopped, hedges destroyed, land built on, and ‘KEEP OUT’ signs erected where once we roamed to pick wild mushrooms and other foods from nature’s larder, with the blessing of the landowner. All in all a sad day for Comberton – when will mankind stop abusing this earth?
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