I walked along Te Ngae Rd [recently]. It was a beautiful day and what I noticed the most was the rubbish.
It was everywhere: a mixture of plastic bags, fast-food wrappers, beer bottles, plastic bottles, gracing the roadside of one of the busiest highways and to top it all off, it's one of the entrance ways into our city which if I remember correctly is a tourist attraction and as we are told frequently, a beautiful spot and has much to offer.
I'm not sure if we should include the rubbish.
It's amazing what you notice when you go walking. Far more is seen and if I had a rubbish bag or two I could have easily filled them with more left to collect.
I don't honestly understand how people think it's okay to trash their own back yard and what sort of message does it send to our children?
I believe we have become a society of people who are lazy, self-absorbed, and more interested in the phone that's seen clutched in a person's hand like it's the most important thing in the world.
I think our councillors would be shocked if they took a stroll down Te Ngae Rd. It's not a good look for our city with all that litter scattered to blow everywhere. Very disappointing to see.
RUTH FERREIRA
Rotorua
Give us a break
Last week we took one of my sons and his girlfriend and her sister to the Redwoods.
This is probably one of the most beautiful places to take people in the Bay of Plenty. We go there often.
The walks throughout the Redwoods are used mainly by the fit and those who want to be and yet the many paths are sprinkled with nice, comfortable seats upon which to rest ones weary legs. Indeed many of the lakes and other walks have suitable seating and rest places.
Now this is not a gripe, but my wife and I also use the ''doggy walk'' bit of the woods when we walk, twice a week, with our hound.
On these walks we often meet up with other aged persons who walk their faithful dogs. It is lovely, really enjoyable. But although the doggy' part is equally lovely and well kept, there is nowhere for tired old bones to sit and recover, which is a shame!
Perhaps a few logs placed around the park, just enough to give us old 'uns a five-minute break?
JIM ADAMS
Rotorua