SIR: With reference to the article (BEN February 28/March 1), I would like to state that I did not want to take part in the controversy surrounding the Greenmount Wild Bird Sanctuary. However, the spokesman's words against my friends cannot remain unanswered. He does not know who he is insulting.

He is throwing these abusive remarks as 'feathers on the wind', once out they cannot be recaptured! Apart from the people who came to the barricaded gates of my sad, depleted Sanctuary he is insulting 500 people, who would have been there if they could, who write to me with love and support and they come from all walks of life.

From those who could come the first was an industrialist supporter who raised a lot of money, and his daughter, who in her turn has been a volunteer for two years and who is not allowed to have a key to the gates.

She has no choice but to climb over the gates to give the remaining birds some care and special treats. Next to them stood a lawyer, who gave many hours of voluntary work in the past and is giving his time free at present. Two ladies from Preston, both with college degrees contributed a lot of funds over many years as part of supporting voluntary organisation. A young couple came next - they gave money for a special aviary. Their little daughter and her companion were part of the protest. The latest of the supporters were a doctor of medicine and his wife, and a self employed designer in engineering who gives time to our cause and few more friends.

Irene Zalasiewicz

Greenmount Wild

Bird Hospital & Sanctuary.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.