Sir, – I could not agree more with Deirdre Whitfield, who is responsible for Wicklow County Council's playgrounds, as quoted in Anthea McTeirnan's "Room to roam – how our children's lives are restricted by the world we live in"(August 28th), about how more restricted horizons and more limited opportunities for play are making children "less independent and disconnecting them from the natural environment".
About 20 years ago I planted a beautiful walnut tree in our local church grounds not too far from the main road. I had hoped that this tree would grow, mature and bear walnuts so that our children and their parents would enjoy this splendid tree during spring, when it is in flower, and late summer and autumn, when the tree boasts many walnuts. The tree has lived up to my expectations.
However, year after year my quiet observation and survey have revealed that not many children or their parents are interested in this tree and some do not even know that it is a walnut tree.
Not many children are walking these days; even when they do walk, accompanied by parents or adults, their attention is given to mobile phones.
There is a lovely horse chestnut tree near our local supermarket car park and right now it is laden with fruits. It is a pity that I do not see many children under the tree trying to reach those fruits to play conkers. Do they know what they are missing? – Yours, etc,
MARY TOOMEY,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.