REGARDING the closure of Chaigley Manor children's holiday home, though I am not from Hyndburn and have no political axe to grind, my deep concern is for the children of the area.

Many children nowadays do not have the same opportunities we had when we were young. Gone are the days when children could play happily for hours in fields and by streams.

Caring, responsible parents dare not let their children out of their sight nowadays. The long sun-and-fun-filled days have been replaced by electronic games and stark television imagery which has sadly become the 'norm.'

Chaigley Manor offered a ray of hope for many children. It proved to them that life did not need to be all bad. For one week they could run, jump and play in green fields secure in the knowledge that they were safe.

Most important of all, it offered them the chance to discover nature.

Children need to be taught to appreciate the colour and texture of nature. This, in turn, can be woven into their tapestry of life experience.

Discovering one's own nature in the mirror of nature, remains one of the most rewarding experiences that life has to give. Let us not deny our children that right. Chaigley Manor provided the key. Let us fight to provide all our children with that key.

Help me to offer them this chance; help me fight for the future of Chaigley Manor.

Without your help and support, the door to nature will stay firmly closed to future generations of children. Any donation or support you can offer will be of benefit to local children - our children.

NICOLE COOK (former house manager of Chaigley Manor, now head of new management team), Chaigley Manor, Chipping Road, Chaigley, Clitheroe.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.