WE write with reference to the article in the Post headlined "Goats will get to gorge themselves" (April 16).

Walcombe Slade (aka the Gully) is a home to unique whitebeam tree species. Fencing goats in among some of the rarest trees on the planet is not a good idea. These trees have evolved here in recent decades by a process of natural cloning of great interest to evolutionary scientists. They would not have evolved at all had goats been present in the past.

This area is a fascinating laboratory of natural evolution, but further new species will not be able to evolve here in the presence of goats.

If they (Bristol City Council/The Downs Committee/Natural England) go ahead with this plan, it will be a great loss to science, to our knowledge of evolution, and to Bristol's reputation as custodian of this unique ecosystem.

The Bristol Downs Act of 1861 requires that the Downs "be kept open and un-enclosed". In our view, enclosure is therefore illegal. The goats are certain at some stage to escape and ruin the neighbouring gardens.

The council has made it clear that this is a cost-cutting exercise – rather than spending money on human resources properly to manage the Downs. In the year of Darwin's bi- centenary, surely this area needs the attentions of botanists – not goats!

Roger Yates and Dr John Maher, Bristol Downswatch.