I enjoy walking around the parish of Mapledurwell as it has many attractive rural features.

One of these is the verge on the left of Down Lane going up to Five Lanes End.

It has been signposted as a protected verge of noted wildflowers.

Last week it was at its best with yarrow, scabious, agrimony, nettle leaved harebells, vetch, marjoram, St John’s wort, and toadflax, to name but a few, all in full bloom.

I was horrified to see this week that this verge has been mowed by the council and the signposts showing the protected area have been removed.

This is before the flowers have had a chance to seed themselves.

I understand that verges need to be mown for traffic safety but the workers should have been made aware of this protected section before they started.

That they even removed the signposts is even more alarming.

Is this what Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council mean about being environmentally friendly?

I ask that the signposts be reinstated and council mowing teams be instructed to respect them in future. I will buy some wildflower seeds and sow them there in the hope that permanent damage has not occurred.

Lorna Cuthill

Tunworth Road

Mapledurwell

Basingstoke

Send letters by email to newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk or by post to Editor, Basingstoke Gazette, Absolutely Offices, Lutyens Cl, Lychpit, Basingstoke RG24 8AG.

All letters and e-mails must include full names and addresses (anonymous letters will not be published), although these details may be withheld from publication, on request.

Letters of 300 words or less will be given priority, although all are subject to editing for reasons of clarity, space, or legal requirements. We reserve the right to edit letters.