I REGARD myself as being extremely lucky to live in this beautiful part of the world. I moved here just five years ago and I am constantly finding new paths and discovering different portraits of nature as it evolves.

In the past year I have noticed a disappointing increase in the amount of litter ruining this paradise.

Recently I walked my dog in the woods around Worcester Lodge (behind the recycling centre).

Cans, plastic, paper and glass bottles spoilt the scene. I had to put my dog on his lead in the field next to the Lodge for fear of him cutting his feet on broken glass.

Early last week I noticed how much litter there was along the verges for about a mile along the Gloucester road leading out from Monmouth.

Apart from the eyesore, this kind of litter is a hazard to animals – in particular glass bottles, which are a death trap to small mammals.

I notice in The Archers that they plan to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday by cleaning up their neighbourhood – Clean for the Queen.

Maybe those of us who care might do the same, taking a black bin liner on our walks to collect some of the refuse left by the less intelligent of our species.

We can but hope that, like the dodo, they will become extinct.

– Mark Parry, Broadwell.