AS WE enter the 21st century we witness the ongoing destruction of our once green and pleasant land.

In the age of so-called 'progress' great swathes of Britain are routinely concreted over, our green belts compromised, and some of the most beautiful areas of our country disfigured by new 'essential' road and rail networks.

If there is one thing we need more than ever as a species today, it is access to undeveloped green spaces. From that point of view, the last thing the Lake District needs is more 'commercial' development.

Ultimately its uniqueness is all that is required to ensure its future popularity, not the tacky 'honeypot' locations we now see.

I was therefore aghast at the news that a commercially profit-orientated zip wire was being proposed to 'fly over' Thirlmere by Mike Turner of Treetop Trek.

Was this a joke? Unfortunately not. Mr Turner, for obvious reasons, says that 'the Lake District should appeal to the broadest range of people possible'.

The truth is that the fells, moors, and the dwindling wild spaces left in Britain will never will appeal to absolutely everyone.

Want a white knuckle ride? No problem - there are plenty of theme arks around and Blackpool is on the doorstep.

Please, for once, therefore, can we just keep one part of this country as nature intended and preserve this spacial place for future generations - before it's too late.

D. I. Thomas

Allithwaite