Left alone, nature controls its own

I HAVE lived by badgers all my life and we accepted them as part of the country scene, they were left to roam freely and caused no trouble.

There were not too many and therefore never went hungry, their numbers were controlled by other animals and the odd shooter.

It was not until they became an endangered species that their number increased out of control.

This meant that they were now becoming short of their natural food and they lived down a dark damp hole and tuberculosis spread among them.

Not only did they die of a most painful death, the disease spread among other animals, mainly dairy cows and was only brought under control after much culling and at great expense to the farmer and government, but not eradicated.

The badgers, on the other hand, were left alone and died of a painful death in large numbers from the disease, back to where they were before they were made an endangered species.

Man did the badger no favours. Left alone, nature controls its own. It is when we interfere that things get out of control.

We worry about money, but animals worry about their next meal. Sir Eric Howells

Narberth

However, the issue goes much deeper than this.

Recent events have seen the Conservative Government in Westminster cancel rail electrification between Cardiff and Swansea, delay any decision over the tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay, and attempt to retain 24 powers that are currently devolved to the Welsh Government as part of the EU Withdrawal Bill.

If I were a Welsh farmer, ran a business or was living in an area of Wales facing significant socioeconomic challenges and currently benefiting from EU regional grants, I would be very concerned indeed.

Given this recent track record, what priority will the government in Westminster give to Welsh interests in future? Wales is not some postcolonial outpost where you can simply hand down decisions from on high. If the UK is to remain together, should Brexit occur, it will only do so if it operates as a partnership of nations of equal status where the interests of all are treated with respect.

Robert Hopkins Cyncoed, Cardiff