L A O’Bee (Letters August 6) is quite right. I would be horrified if the wild flowers and shrubs in the Old Cemetery were cleared and replaced with manicured lawns.

The public were consulted on management in the 1980s and they went for wildlife as opposed to clearing the site. How beautiful it has become.

Eight years ago, I first took my camera to the Old Cemetery. A day out became a passionate project as I discovered the abundance of species – I recorded over 200 between spring and autumn. An absolutely wonderful resource right in the heart of the city.

What does concern me is that this site does not seem to have any protection. It needs to be declared a Nature Reserve and the sooner the better.

TIM CHIDGEY, Southampton .