People are frightened to clear snow from their pavement for fear of litigation if someone slips and a Tendring Council document on open spaces talks of avoiding "ambush points" where one presumes local toughs/sex attackers/botanists (delete as appropriate) are threatening. But who spreads this fear? The Health and Safety Executive have a sensible approach to risk-taking in children's play, as do the Essex Sports Field Association when I spoke to them.

Research not only shows the health benefit of enjoying wild areas, but also, chidren who climb trees are more able to assess the risks of recreational drugs and other social hazards.

I think what we, as people who have experience of wild areas, need to do is encourage confidence in those planners, teachers, and others who have the responsibility to make safety decisions. Often they are quite ignorant about nature. When people are unsure, they over-estimate risk, so we need to pass on our knowledge and experience.

And snow-clearing your pavement? You have no worries about being sued unless you do something really, really stupid (and the same applies for giving first aid). Let's hope we don't have to clear any snow in July!