I was disappointed to read Robin Rimmer's letter (25 June) disagreeing with Roger's Rabbits on the benefits of mangroves. For someone with such a long association with Welcome Bay I would have thought Robin would have been well aware of their blessings. How when the tide goes out, fish are trapped within the mangroves and lie there flapping, just waiting to jump into your fry-pan. Also how mangrove seeds when soaked in brine for about 6 months taste just like Indonesian olives.
This weekend I decided to renew my acquaintance with the mangroves, and tripped into the green marvels. While I did not find Roger's Rabbits' blue whales, there were still wonders to behold. Ducks feeding on oranges, so being ready flavoured for the table, a pair of the Lesser Spotted Halcyon birds building their nest in an oasis of calm, and porcine aviators practicing their take offs. On entering a hidden clearing, the most amazing sight of all, a sawmill, cutting timber from sustainability logged mangroves. There was also a factory turning out eco-friendly furniture, specifically uni-sex manrobes and short tallboys.
So excited was I by these wondrous sights I could hardly wait to get back to tell my friends at the bottom of my garden.
Richard Prince, Welcome Bay.