Whispering Smith Column published in the Littlehampton Gazette December 15th.2016

DELIGHTED to report that the Littlehampton Town Council’s Community  Resources Committee have recommended to the full council that there be an end to the current practice of trapping and killing foxes on allotments and a one year moratorium be imposed in order to fully evaluate the situation. That decision, following an excellent comprehensive and detailed report compiled by the TC’s Department, will not please some but in reality the cruel slaughter was a total waste of time. Any single fox killed is replaced by another and the harm they do, a bit of digging or nicking the odd carrot, is much exaggerated by those few who simply do not like foxes. That is something I, and apparently some of the councillors, will never fully understand. My one disappointment is that so few of you followed up on your promise to write to the Town Clerk. I guess it was either because your stopping me on the High Street and telling me of your support was thought to be enough or, as is more likely, there is a reluctance on the part of many to actually become ‘involved’ with the council on such matters. Pity, because the LTC really do listen. My thanks to those that did and to the CRC committee members and officers involved, I and the foxes thank them.

I had a phone call this evening from a man representing a company suggesting that I may be someone pestered by unwanted cold callers. He was offering a service to help rid me of this troublesome phenomenon. I pointed out to him that the only nuisance call I had received all day was his and did he know the meaning of the word ‘irony’?

UNLIKE the fox, slugs really are a pest and Rustington’s Waitrose are offering free coffee grounds which some claim to be an effective slug repellent and is not harmful to other wildlife.

Photograph. Lovely mural on Walthamstowe wall