Letter: Leave the leaves alone

On a recent sunny afternoon, a relaxing visit to the Forest in Brockenhurst was marred by the deafening sound of leaf blowers everywhere. Was the sight of leaves so dreadful to these residents that they were willing to sacrifice the peace, the fresh air, their own health and the health of their gardens, just to maintain immaculate lawns – in a forest?

Dead leaves aren’t litter, soil health depends on them. Invertebrates like worms and woodlice pull fallen leaves underground and break them down into nourishment for plant roots. The process also loosens the soil that’s been compacted by heavy lawnmowers so moisture can penetrate in the dry season.

Essential insects like spiders, bees, and beetles also overwinter in piles of leaf litter, providing food for the birds year-round, pollination and control of pests such as aphids.

Petrol leaf blowers, on the other hand, sicken every living thing. Their primitive engines generate hundreds of times more hazardous pollutants and fine particulates than automobiles. Operators gulp down masses of carcinogens like unburned petrol, benzene, butadiene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, hydrocarbons, particulates and ozone. This leads to lung damage, heart arrhythmias, chronic headaches and cancer.

The noise produced by two-stroke engines is harmful, too. Research shows its distinctive low-frequency noise travels much further than other sounds at the same decibel. As loud as a chainsaw but with an uneven, high pitched whine, the noise penetrates solid walls and internal organs. Ear protection doesn’t help the user close to the device, where the dB are 95-115. Passers-by and wildlife have no barrier against it.

Are leaf blowers more efficient than rakes? For most jobs, they’re not. Challenge someone to a race and you’ll see. If you’ve ever watched a worker struggle to move a heavy pile of damp leaves and grass clippings with a glorified hair drier, you’ll know what I mean!

So please, leave those leaves! Or rake. Or if you must buy a leaf blower, choose an electric one.

Ani Delmont

Lymington