CHRIS Packham’s regular feature in August’s edition of the BBC Wildlife magazine makes depressing reading.

The reason I am highlighting it here is because the Forest of Dean is an area where what he is talking about is a big threat.

Although shortened I quote: “Does it depress you that the new UK government felt the urgent need...to slash support for clean onshore energy? Our government actually seems proud to flaunt its warped view of nature and its appalling complacency about the environmental crises facing us. What catastrophe will finally nudge us over the edge? What tragedy will..shake us into action? Perhaps it will be something that harms us... drinking water forever contaminated by fracking, or a home-grown nuclear disaster. It could be dead fields, devoid of crops because of devastated soil or a flooded capital city...but let’s hope not.”

But what will it take? Maybe it won’t happen in many of our lifetimes but what about the future of our children, grandchildren?

It’s not just the environmental factors either. Chris Packham’s article goes on to say “since 1970 we have lost 44 million birds from our countryside.”

There is a very urgent need to implement solutions for our species and all the others we rely on (like bees) otherwise the future is going to be catastrophic.

So take this information into account when thinking of the so-called need of more housing or moving the college.

It’s not just the site the plan is meant for but the knock-on effect it will have with more transport (pollution).

A previous report in BBC Wildlife stated that off-shore wind turbines act as natural marine nature reserves because, unlike the information that is put out to scare us, birds actually avoid turbines therefore marine life find refuge in these areas.

Yes it will take a collection of renewable energy sources to be viable for our needs but at least it is a safe option.

– Concerned, Coleford.