There have been valid arguments put forward recently in these pages for conserving Bushfield Camp as a nature reserve: to preserve biodiversity and protect wildlife, to avoid an increase in local pollution, to ease the load on Winchester's sewage system and to prevent a huge increase in traffic and all its associated problems.

Another reason why we should keep these valuable green lungs is to mitigate the effect of global warming. An important way to keep people safe in an urban area during heatwaves is to reduce the amount of concrete and tarmac while increasing the number of parks. It has been reported that nearly 50,000 people died from the heat last year in Europe, and that Europe is heating at a much faster rate than other parts of the world. It seems obvious to me and many others that it is more vital than ever that Winchester keeps its green spaces.

 

Jon Shurlock,

Priors Dean Road,

Harestock,

Winchester