Readers' letters - May 10

I know hedgehogs are around and about as they’ve left evidence on the front lawn and by the back gate.

Until recently I hadn’t set eyes on the culprit(s).

Many gardens are enclosed, preventing hedgehogs having a much-needed thoroughfare for their night-time foraging.

A few weeks back we cut out a hole in the garden gate, created two hedgehog nesting sites, left out food, and waited.

We suspected hedgehog activity as the food had been eaten, dishes upturned, areas in the flower border flattened, and once again there was that evidence, now on the back lawn.

As I stepped out of my back door the other night to investigate, torch in hand, I almost trod on a huge beast of a hedgehog.

S/he curled up and played dead until I went away, and then went about its usual hedgehog business, snuffling and shuffling around the garden.

Our suspicions had been confirmed.

Better still, two nights later, THREE hedgehogs found their way through the hole in the gate into the garden.

We leave out plenty of hedgehog-friendly snacks, clean drinking water, and wait in eager anticipation to see our prickly visitors.

Sadly hedgehogs are an endangered species.

Only with our help will they survive and thrive.

Sue Massey

via email

brexit

We are made of better stuff

In 1939, this sovereign nation of ours stood alone against the might of certain nations across the channel.

We didn’t bend the knee and capitulate to threats and intimidation, emanating from their leaders, but decided we would defend our hard won freedoms using all necessary means.

During those times, there were certain politicians who considered that foolhardy and we should roll over and accept terms which would have turned this nation into a subservient annex of those foreign powers.

The people of the

nation, led by the strong Prime Minister Churchill,

didn’t accept that cowardice.

We are made of better stuff.

A similar situation exists with the decision made by the people, by referendum, to leave the European Union.

There are politicians, of certain persuasions, who consider that decision made by the people as crass and we must capitulate to the Brexit proposals, demanded by the European Union, or, even worse, try to bypass that referendum result and

stay, by using any means possible, within the European Union.

There is no way the people of this great nation, led by our strong Prime Minister, will allow those politicians to deny them, the people of this sovereign nation, their chosen

destiny of freedom and prosperity.

We are made of better stuff.

Bernard Darbyshire

via email

finances

Give savers

an incentive

One often reads that the present generation of young adults has no habit of saving for a rainy day.

This is unfortunate but their motivations are understandable.

Regulation now requires that the ‘fact sheets’ about savings products shows the account balance on £1,000 after one year.

I have one of those sheets in front of me now which shows £1,001.20.

Frankly, who would bother?

Better ‘under the mattress’ – but of course, from there it gets spent.

Present interest rates only have any attraction for large sums invested, which most young people don’t have, or for cash tied up for several years, which doesn’t suit young adults.

It would be economically damaging if a succession of generations of young adults continued the lost savings habit.

Ultimately there would be a dearth of capital to lend to businesses and to issue as mortgages.

The entrenched long period of miniscule interest rates needs to end soon, and a more realistic level set.

Low rates may well suit entrepreneurs and mortgages but, maintained over a long run, they damage savings habits and eventually invested capital spirals downwards.

Neil Inkley

Walton-le-Dale

politics

Underestimating the opposition

What is Theresa May playing at by hinting at increases in taxes and foreign aid in the run-up to the election?

That is a sure vote loser because they are both very unpopular policies.

It is also a sign of complacency caused by a large opinion poll lead.

I think she is taking the opposition too lightly and underestimating it.

If a Labour government or a Labour, Liberal and SNP coalition was returned because of Theresa May’s overconfidence, the European Union could quite easily get back in again through the back door because Labour, Liberal and SNP are all anti- Brexit parties.

R N Coupe

Lostock Hall

community

Make our park family-friendly

I live close to Grange Park, so does my daughter. In fact, she lives opposite the park.

What concerns me is the fact the park is not child-friendly as it doesn’t have any apparatus for the children to play on.

Just two solo swings.

Nothing else, why?

There are plenty of children round here who would love to have a slide and other things to occupy them.

Why is Grange being left out?

I can’t think of any other areas in Preston that are lacking this.

Please give our children – and my grandkids – somewhere to play.

Also can someone empty the dog poo bin? It’s been overflowing for months.

Concerned resident

politics

‘Terrible trio’ to blame for woes

It is not the Corbyn factor alone that leads to Labour’s woes – not by a long chalk.

Look instead to the terrible trio of Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and Diane Abbott and I vouch you’ll find the answer.

Joe Dawson

Withnell