I DIDN'T see the photo to which Marion Cooke (August 9) took exception, but I agree with her.

There is a tendency for the media to latch on to something rural and either print what they assume to be the case (as this article did) or to depict the countryside as some vast, free theme park.

It is time that the media realised that the countryside is a working and dwelling-place first and a recreation area second, due to the enormous amounts of effort of those who look after it, whatever their role.

Helen Burley,

Moor End,

Kelfield,

York.

Updated: 08:57 Saturday, August 17, 2002