Letter: Habitats of Britain's birds are under threat

Sir: I was not at all surprised to see that ducks and geese are dying of botulism in Hyde Park (report, 8 August). I go to St James's Park regularly and watch with horror as the lake changes colour, ending up as a slimy, greeny-brown soup which stinks in hot weather. People insist on feeding birds with their sandwiches, pieces of bread fall into the water and add to the slime soup, while pigeons and gulls attracted by the detritus add to the slime underfoot on the paths.

Is it beyond the capabilities of the Royal Park authorities to keep the lakes clean and dissuade people from feeding the birds?

Yours faithfully,

GLYNNE WILLIAMS

London, E17

8 August