WHILST I agree with Jean-Luc Provonsal criticising the councils intention to charge for green waste collection (£26 per annum to collect my hedge trimmings, there must be enough overpaid staff employed at the 'Castle' to collect my green waste on their drive to work), I disagree with his comments about how they have used Easter to advertise the new charges. All they say in their advert is 'Don't be left with egg on your face'. Is this really bad taste and disrespectful to the most important Christian festival?

For Mr Provensal's information, Easter and the tradition of eggs and bunnies is anything but Christian. The name easter originates from the Anglo Saxon goddess of sex and fertility named Easter. How appropriate it was for the ancients to remember her at a time of growth and beginnings, worshipping her sacred animal, the bunny and honouring her with eggs. In the East, a similar deity called Oester was worshipped at the same time of the year. No wonder it became convenient to have these two traditions brought together.

The symbolism of resurrection and flowers blooming with joy is almost universal at the time of the vernal equinox. The Syrian fertility god Attys is traditionally hung on a tree each year and resurrected. An alternative version to this tale is that Attys is killed by a wild boar (a cautionary tale for anyone walking in the Forest today!) and is reborn from the tree of the myrrh.

Speaking to my Wicca friends about all this (Gerontius, Guenivere, Bluebell and Kevin), they welcome anyone wishing to remember our pagan heritage. They are certainly not offended by the thought of anyone having egg on their face should they find their green bins have not been emptied.

– Rupert Prendbury, Staunton.