Letter: Neatest villages not the best kept

Sir: Duff Hart-Davies (Country Matters, 24 August) must never be allowed to judge another best kept village contest. His judging sheet is a recipe for suburbanisation.

This judging couple believe that dandelions, daisies, birds, bees and butterflies are every child's birthright. We're not permitted to deduct marks for close-mown grass, but we add a few on for the odd verge or nettle patch managed for wildlife. Our highest praise goes to the village whose churchyard is a conservation area.

STAN HAYNES

SHIRLEY HAYNES

Huntingdon

Cambridgeshire