I RECENTLY walked from Brierfield Woods alongside the river and then through Barrowford to Roughlee.

During my day out I counted eight herons plus two others which were dead.

It is quite normal during autumn to find lots of herons, some looking a bit lost as young birds are trying to fend for themselves.

If every young heron survived we would soon have a plague of them and some must die if nature is to achieve a balance.

This is true of all animals and as the days shorten and the temperature falls, we will all be able to watch our wildlife under pressure.