If you want an antidote to the 'doom-and-gloom' of this song try reading Oliver Rackham's latest book 'Woodlands' (Collins, 2006 - vol. 100 in the Collins New Naturalist series). Most ancient woodland enjoys considerable protection these days and, as Rackham says, "the 'locust years' are over" (referring to the 60s and 70s when people like The Forestry Commission even sprayed ancient woodland with Agent Orange so that they could replace the native trees with alien conifers! Now the FC is into restoring ancient woodland).

As with anything connected with the natural environment there's no cause for complacency but Rackham tells a complex and fascinating story - which would be pretty difficult to sum up in a song!