SIR — A profusion of wild flowers, ox eye daisies, primroses, cowslips, blue and white violets and hidden away in the cow parsley at least two varieties of orchids, were all happily growing — or they did — in a lane not far from my home.

On May 12, this lane was a joy to walk along. Today (unlucky 13 for the flowers), the dreaded council cutters arrived, slicing through this deep hedgerow, and the flowers!

There will be no flowers on most of the orchids yet again.

This hedgerow in no way impedes the view of motorists, so why must it be cut?

It is always a pleasure to walk this lane, looking for the first signs of spring, and so sad to see these, some increasingly rare, flowers, cut down before they can, or have, flowered.

It would appear that wild flowers are only allowed to flourish on council designated conservation sites.

Is it not possible to cut village hedgerows and verges in the autumn?

By law we protect the birds’ nesting season, and leave hedgecutting; let’s consider the wild flowers also.

Name and address supplied, Winchester.