I think many people would be in total agreement with Janet Long (Letters, June 6) about the sad state of York parks in general, not only Rowntree Park.

However, the blame for this sorry state of affairs cannot be laid at the council’s door but must be seen as the fault of central government who have imposed savage cuts on local councils since 2010. Councils are therefore forced to prioritise care of the elderly and child protection over maintaining our public spaces. Until central government changes there appears to be no alternative to volunteers literally grasping the nettles and doing their somewhat inadequate best to preserve the parks.

Liz Maynard,

Friend of Glen Gardens,

Bull Lane, York