We moved to East Lothian 17 years ago and during that time have noticed various ecological changes.

The buddleia in our front garden had so many butterflies in the summer that we could not count them. There was an abundance of bumblebees, honey bees, wasps and various other insects. In the evening we could not leave the patio door open without being invaded by daddy-longlegs, moths, bluebottles, houseflies, spiders and other creatures.

In the winter-time spiders were abundant in the house and were assisted out of the bath.

Our bird table was frequented mostly by small birds: sparrows, starlings, blackbirds, various tits, the odd thrush, jackdaws and magpies.

This year we have seen three butterflies, fluttering by, very few bumblebees, no honey bees, two wasps, no daddy-longlegs, two or three moths, a couple of bluebottles and houseflies, and three spiders.

Our bird table has been invaded by rooks and we have to encourage them to leave so that the small birds can feed. We have not seen a thrush, but have had visits from a sparrowhawk Is this due to the over-use of insecticides? Is it due to plastic mulching of fields?

Have any of your readers had a similar experience? Is there any other reason for the decrease in insects?

W M Irvine St. Martin’s Gate Haddington