THE story on the front page of the Times last week infuriated me.

The fact is that there is an awful lot of good work going into the Cowdenbeath Community Woodland only for a few mindless people to try and spoil it.

While there is nothing to absolve those who abuse a place of natural beauty it is perhaps easier to get to grips why some youngsters come along and have a wee camp in the woods.

I suppose it is exciting to gather during a summer's evening in a nice wooded area and have a few illegal drinks.

But what is not so smart is lighting small fires which can cause damage if not properly controlled.

Also if they were to take their rubbish home with them they could leave the place reasonably tidy.

However, no they throw stuff about, bottles and wrappers and cause a mess that someone other than themselves have to clean up.

That is bad enough but the people who come into the Community Woodland with these infernal quadbikes and scrambling machines are even more infuriating.

Could they not find a piece of waste ground somewhere that would fit the bill and allow them to freely trundle around without bothering anyone.

Really the path network in the Community Woodland is not designed for motorised vehicles and when the weather has been wet it just makes an almighty mess.

The small band of volunteers on the Cowdenbeath Environment Group do a marvellous job, from the kids who create and put the bird boxes up (see picture) to the adults who tidy up the mess that the unwelcome visitors make.

So come on fairs fair, please look after the Community Woodland, it is a real asset to the town and not something that should be abused.

WOODIE,

Cowdenbeath.