HOW right Tony Shepherd, Vicar of St Peter's, Harrogate, is to say that we "would do well to interpret the current foot and mouth crisis as a judgement - not just on farmers but on everyone who made such demands on them because of society's present style" (April 12).

For years I've worried about the abuses in 'farming' practice and management of the countryside. Our greed exceeds our needs. All the good things in creation should be treated with tender loving care. Such care meets all our needs and leaves some to spare.

Janet Rowntree,

Heworth Road,

Heworth, York.

Updated: 10:50 Thursday, April 19, 2001