The following letter has been published in The Times, 16 October 2024.
Sir, Miranda Hart deserves sympathy for her awful experience of Lyme disease and her debilitating symptoms (“Miranda: I was bedbound with illness for years after TV success”, Oct 14). There are 2,000 to 3,000 confirmed cases of Lyme disease each year in England and Wales, although the true figure may be much higher because of inaccurate diagnosis. On grouse moors, vegetation is managed to reduce the number of ticks, thereby protecting wildlife, pets and people. By contrast, landowners who are following the “rewilding” trend are providing an ideal habitat for ticks, often across vast areas.
Landowners such as the National Trust and some national park authorities are seriously increasing the prevalence of tick-borne diseases, without making the public aware of the risk.
Andrew Gilruth
Chief Executive, Moorland Association