LINDA Bowman (Letters, September 30) is right to point out that there are certain weeds that should not be cut and placed in the garden waste sacks, top of the list being the invasive plant Knotweed.
However, she is mistaken that English Ivy (Hedra helix) is an invasive vine and is in fact native to Eurasia. It does not kill trees in its native environment and if ivy has become rampant it may indicate that the tree itself is unhealthy.
In countries where it is not native (ie, the US) ivy is a problem and can kill trees. In its native environment ivy is important ecologically, flowering late in the year, offering one of the last sources of food before winter.
The fruit develops during the winter and is ripe in early spring when there is a shortage of food for birds and mammals. Due to its evergreen nature ivy also provides good winter cover.
While on the subject of invasive plants, whose responsibility is it to deal with the Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam growing in the West Okement beside the new Co-op supermarket in Okehampton?
Steve Granger
Okehampton