IT is a real shame that mindless people think it is okay to destroy the habitat of wildlife in a place such as Conygre Mead Nature Reserve.

The people that are doing this are not only spoiling the place for wildlife, they are spoiling it for other park users who visit to enjoy the open, green space in peace.

The reserve is one of the town’s most beautiful spots and now users of the reserve must fight to keep it that way.

Visitors should remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to the police. This can only help the police catch the disruptive element and ensure that animals in the reserve are left in peace.

But there are fears that even if the culprits are caught, that they will only move onto another place to continue their behaviour.

Smoking cannabis, damaging trees and starting fires has led some residents to believe the anti-social behaviour could be the actions of younger people in the area.

One of the ways to tackle this problem is by educating young people about the dangers of drug use and how easily the selfish actions of humans can destroy vital animal habitats.

And it is down to schools and parents to drill this message home.

Summer is of course the perfect time to be outside, but there are far better ways to enjoy the great outdoors during the lighter evenings than to damage a beautiful nature reserve and its inhabitants.