IN response to Mr Shillito's letter about the struggling brood of ducklings on Clifton Backies Local Nature Reserve (May 24), I should wish to add a few points for people interested in this local treasure.

Firstly, I agree that it is a great sight to see the resilience of nature when faced with some of the anti-social problems the reserve, and its wildlife, suffers.

Secondly, Clifton Backies is on a 125-year lease to City of York Council and managed not by the council, but by a management committee of 12 people consisting of council officers, councillors and representatives from the local community and environmental groups.

Thirdly, far from Clifton Backies being ignored, local residents may have noticed some of the positive activities on the reserve such as frequent litter-picks, path edge clearance, dead hedging, entrance signs, log sculptures, tree planting and hedge laying.

There are also school holiday activities for children, school visits, family activities and guided walks.

Finally, I am pleased that local people such as Mr Shillito take such an interest in the nature reserve on their doorstep. I should like to hear more of the positive things people have to say about the site and maybe those people will be willing to share their enthusiasm and support by joining the Friends Of Clifton Backies.

Stephen Whittaker,

Local nature reserves officer,

City of York Council,

Back Swinegate, York.

Updated: 08:44 Monday, May 30, 2005