HOW wonderful it is to see the mother duck struggling to bring up her young brood of ducklings on Clifton Backies. She started with 14 but within a week she was down to seven.

They swim between discarded shopping trolleys, burnt and stolen mopeds and half a dozen life buoys. If that's not hard enough, she has cats, rats and plenty of foxes to deal with. The young brood are growing fast and I hope they make it.

I noticed while walking my faithful friend, the lesser spotted red and yellow "Honda" with her brood, a mixture of trail, mini and goped bikes of various colours. They cut through the damp ground, leaving their deep ruts. People divert from their normal route to avoid disturbing this not so rare breed!

I hope in future this beauty spot on the edge of the city with its quirky points is not ignored by the city council, because it would be a shame.

Mr Shillito,

Hendon Garth,

Rawcliffe, York.

Updated: 11:18 Tuesday, May 24, 2005