51³Ô¹Ï

John Barrow ("Beauty is in the eye of the hunter", THES, September 15) suggests the arid, bare savannah grasslands determine our landscape preferences. What of our love of water? The seaside, the Lake District, waterfalls, hidden pools, rivers, streams, Scottish lochs, fountains, the reflection of the Taj Mahal, children in paddling pools, swimming pools, washing in showers.

Applying John Barrow's logic, our evolutionary habitat would be well-watered forest margins. The reason, perhaps, why older teenagers like both deciduous woodland and rain forests as much as the savannah. In this lusher landscape, we might find beauty is in the eye of the gatherer.

Michael Davies 125 Pinks Hill Swanley, Kent