SIR – George Richardson (Dog attacks are the least of sheep’s worries, December 14) is right to be concerned about the suffering and slaughter of sheep, and I agree with him about the wisdom of adopting a vegan diet.
However, Mr Richardson fails to mention another huge problem with sheep farming, which is that it causes considerable damage to the environment, harms food production and is a major contributor to flooding.
In an article entitled Sheepwrecked on his website, leading environmentalist George Monbiot states: “Deep vegetation on the hills absorbs rain when it falls and releases it gradually, delivering a steady supply of water to the lowlands. 
“When grazing prevents trees and shrubs from growing and when the small sharp hooves of sheep compact the soil, rain flashes off the hills, causing floods downstream. 
“When the floods abate, water levels fall rapidly.
“Upland grazing, in other words, contributes to a cycle of flood and drought.
“This restricts the productivity of more fertile lands downstream, both drowning them and depriving them of irrigation water.
“Sheep have reduced most of our uplands to bowling greens with contours. 
“Only the merest remnants of life persist.
“Spend just two hours sitting in a bushy suburban garden and you are more than likely to see far more birds and of a much greater range of species than in walking five miles across almost any part of the British uplands.
“The land has been sheepwrecked.”
PETER TALBOT
Worcester

Fracking vote dismay
SIR – IT IS incredibly disappointing that MPs have voted to allow fracking for shale gas under and near national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty. 
Fracking is an especially destructive form of oil and gas drilling.
It uses a technique of breaking up rock to get to oil or gas supplies.
Ground water can be contaminated by the gases and toxic chemicals used in the fracking process. 
Fracking will not lead to more affordable energy, nor will it tackle global warming, whereas investing in renewable energy will. 
We cannot frack the British countryside and hit our climate change targets just agreed upon in the climate talks in Paris. 
What the Green Party wants is massive investment in power sources that our economy can rely on for years to come, not short-term riskier and dirtier sources that will ruin our countryside.
NEIL LAURENSON
Worcester Green Party


Market was wonderful
SIR – I recently, for the first time, visited your Victorian Christmas Market. 
May I say just how wonderful it was.
The stalls, the selection, the quality of the goods, could not be faulted. The stall holders were so friendly and helpful as well as those in the local shops.
The organisation of the helpers and police, who were always close at hand for advice, was wonderful.
The whole event was superb because there was such a wonderful atmosphere.
I have been to other Christmas Markets but this one beats them all.
MRS M CHALLIS
Newquay

Help for the homeless?
SIR – The chairman of St Paul’s Hostel is again appealing to the public for donations.
As a number of those homeless can afford to buy drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, it seems logical that they are able to pay for their own food and toiletries surely.
MRS C BAYLISS
Worcester

Noah’s festive delights
SIR – I would like to extend my thanks to your readers for their generosity in helping to provide gifts for nine-year-old Noah Jack, who lost all of his in a recent house fire.
The reaction has been tremendous, but I also wanted to highlight that there is still time to donate a gift should they wish or to head to the Just Giving page online to donate. 
Hopefully, with everyone’s support, we can ensure that Noah can still have a happy Christmas!
ALAN FEENEY
Worcester

Think of the animals
SIR – I AM amazed at the insensitivity shown in the proposed street names for this latest desecration of our countryside.
All of the animals listed in your article, and many others including the hedgehog, will be losing nest sites and feeding grounds when this unwanted development goes ahead. 
Surely more appropriate names should be based on building materials such as Concrete, Tarmac and Brick!
TERRY GREEN
Droitwich

Saying ‘no’ to alcohol
SIR – Far too many “macho” men drink far too much beer nowadays, ruining their livers.
I am (now) strictly teetotal, on my GP’s orders.
GEORGE COWLEY
Worcester