SIR – I would like to say what a great place the St Ives Estate at Harden is, especially for little deaf explorers!

As a teacher of the deaf working with deaf pre-schoolers, I am always looking for experiences for the children. Children need to be challenged and excited and we never fail to achieve this when we take the children there.

In October, we parked near the lake after a very rainy day and spent time splashing in all the puddles. We sat quietly in the bird hide, we watched the workman from Bradford Council come to top up the seeds and feed the geese. Last week, we went for a walk looking for dinosaurs. We spent two hours in the wooded area, tip-toeing through bushes. We used twigs and leaves and lots of clay to make our own dinosaur land. We cannot wait to be back there. Many children from cities, especially deaf children, do not get enough chances to explore and take risks in such a safe environment. The children learn a lot about themselves and their environment.

Thank you to everyone at St Ives and Bradford Council who maintain such a wonderful resource.

Margaret Southern, teacher of the deaf and Head of Services for The Elizabeth Foundation, Smith Lane, Bradford