My family and I have enjoyed many lovely holidays in this beautiful part of the country.

However, sadly this came to an end when Dorset became a badger cull zone.

It is for this reason alone, that we no longer visit your county and this saddens me greatly.

On Saturday, September 22, I felt very privileged to be one of the 10,000 people, young and old,supporting the Naturalist and Conservationist Chris Packham taking his 'People's Manifesto for Wildlife – to Downing Street.

Despite being vilified by the Country Side Alliance, the Hunting and Shooting lobbying organisation, he shows amazing strength and determination to try and halt the decline and persecution of so much of our British Wildlife.

Highlighted also was the government's discredited Badger Cull policy, a slaughter on an industrial scale.

If this is allowed to continue as they plan, we will see the extinction of our most ancient species in vast areas of our countryside.

Farming minister George Eustace claims that this cull is having an effect in some areas, but he is misleading the public.

With an increase in cattle testing for Bovine TB, specialised testing only in the badger cull areas and added to this the increase in bio security measures, incidents will inevitably be reduced.

Proof in itself that cattle to cattle transmission and industrial farming, as most scientists and conservationist would agree, are the main causes. Culling badgers is not the answer.

JANE HUTCHINS

Kinloch House, Rannoch Road

Crowborough,

Sussex