I felt the need to write back to Julie Juniper, from Eype, after her scathing and totally misinformed attack on badgers.

I agree that badgers can cause a bit of a mess; I, too, share a garden with badgers and often have to re-plant flowers and repair the lawn, but I feel privileged to share my garden with these misunderstood creatures.

The ludicrous comment that ‘badgers are entirely responsible for the demise of hedgehogs’ left me incredulous; ok, badgers will eat the occasional hedgehog if they cross paths, but this is NOT the reason hedgehogs have declined by such huge numbers, these creatures have co-existed quite comfortably for generations.

The truth of the matter is that the decline of hedgehogs is due to human activity; hedgehogs need large areas to forage in, so when they find themselves in fenced in gardens they often starve.

Any number of other obstructions, including roads, train lines and buildings cause them problems.

So let’s help them out by making holes in or under our fences, leave a wild area in the garden, create a hogitat and put out some food and water out for them.

As for the badgers, living in a beautiful place like Eype must be a joy, so start enjoying your life and the wildlife that visits your garden and don’t vilify the badgers.

LYNNE Bridport