John Fisher, of Beverley Gardens, Ashburton, writes:

I read with disappointment the decision by DNPA to refuse planning to the Community at Steward Wood, Moretonhampstead. What perplexed me was the authority's statement: 'The reason for refusal was the harmful effect on the character and appearance of the national park that it has had and will continue to have.'

I thought for a moment that I was reading a report on the former Travellers' site at Haldon which had a very detrimental effect on the environment and cost thousands of taxpayers' money to remove the hazardous residue.

As a member of The British Horse Loggers, whose patron is Prince Charles, and whose ethos is low impact forestry, I went to visit the community before writing in with support.

I must also add that in my previous profession where I policed this whole area for the past 20 plus years, I was never called to attend Steward Wood, but had attended the other location on a very frequent basis.

This statement is purely a smokescreen to prevent a precedent.

This community live in harmony with their surroundings, do not damage it, and are very mindful of the harm that unfettered development can have. One only needs to look at current building in Newton Abbot to see this.

My thoughts at the time of my visit were, if this community moved out, within a very short space of time, you would not know that it had been a human habitation. I awoke this morning to the dawn chorus, and wondered how wonderful that would sound in Steward Wood.

I do hope that the appeal is successful and that Steward Wood Community continues to show us how to live in harmony with nature.

If this was the Kogi Mama, the world would take notice.