In reply to Giovanni Zammit`s letter regarding works being carried out at Mgarr ix-Xini, Gozo, I would like to assure Mr Zammit that what I, in the company of some friends, have written about was indeed what I saw.

I have indeed, in my previous letter, praised the restoration works being carried out on the coastal tower itself, but perhaps this has escaped Mr Zammit`s attention. Such enterprises always merit praise and encouragement irrespective of which society, organisation or government department has been entrusted with the works, but one should not only expect praise but also criticism whenever this is substantiated.

Why is it that whenever people who care for what is our common natural heritage put pen to paper, they are often (if not always) referred to as armchair critics? Can`t we take criticism?

I am more than sure that the narrow passageway as it was originally, like many other narrow countryside passageways, served its purpose as it was.

If I venture into the countryside, a decent country path with a natural setting of wild flowers and vegetation would do just fine; an eye-pleasing, neat path appeals only to some armchair naturalist! After all, Mgarr ix-Xini is not Merchants Street in Valletta. Natural is best for our natural environment.