APPARENTLY an area at Lodge Hill in Kent, which was originally protected by law to conserve the flora and fauna living there, not least of which are nightingales, has now been designated for the building of around 5,000 new homes. This will destroy that area forever.

York, Easingwold and many surrounding villages continue expanding at an alarming rate.

The population of the world is increasing to such an extent that it cannot be long before there is nowhere left to build, nowhere left to grow food and the songs of nightingales will be gone forever.

How many times must we complain about the cost of living before realising that as long as the population continues to increase the way it is, then demand will continue to outstrip supply and costs will escalate exponentially?

How hard is it now to find anywhere quiet out on the Moors or Dales away from the invasive noises of traffic or other people?

How long can we go on depleting resources before those resources are gone?

We were named homo sapiens because it supposedly means “wise or thinking man”.

How wise or thoughtful is it to create a situation that will ultimately lead to your own demise?

But I guess until that time comes our children will always be able to listen to the songs of nightingales on their iPads and mobile phones, won’t they?

John Ward, Pinfold Terrace, Tollerton, York.