SHOULD Dorset's grass verges be cut to look tidy or left to grow for the benefit of wildlife? 

It's an issue that has been exercising the readers of our letter's pages for the last fortnight, so we though we'd ask you all what you think.

The first letter on the subject came from Elaine Atfield, who wanted the council to cut the foot-high grass around her home in Ferndown.

But Mike Fry, from Upton, replied that uncut verges were "one of the few delights left in rural Dorset that comes free of charge for the indigenous population, who have grown up to appreciate beauty and our diversity of wildlife and flora."

Other Ferndown residents agreed with Elaine Atfield, while Harriet Stuart-Jones suggested a narrow strip of grass to be cut at the front of the verge to show passers-by that the growth is deliberate. 

Barbara Ralph told us the lack of cuts (grass) was due to too many cuts (financial) and said the overgrown verges made Britain look derelict. 

But Emma Fisher vigorously defended the needs of wildlife for habitats in which they could thrive. And Terry Jerrard reminicsed about his childhood wandering through knee-high grass. 

Where do you stand? The recent State of Nature report highlight the precarious state of many of our wild insects, birds and butterflies - so does leaving the grass long on roadsides fullfill an important purpose?

Or do you agree that Dorset looks shabby and unkempt and it's more important to cut the grass for appearances?