Sir – While walking around the lake at Blenheim I was reminded that a capable Mr Brown taught us what the presence of water can do to improve the natural landscape.

Blenheim Lake is wholly artificial. The difference between a lake and a reservoir is landscaping — whether Mr Brown, his heirs and Capable successors have had a say.

When he was young, my father made a fool of himself protesting over the construction of Thirlmere — how many visitors to the Lake District now realise that Thirlmere is wholly artificial? Its design, because of where it is, was most carefully arranged.

Most enjoy the water views and agree it enhances the landscape, and my dear Pa could never accept that.

So how much is budgetted to ensure the reservoir blends in with the profile of the Downs behind? Will the banks be scalloped and meander pleasingly? Will there be headlands and shelving beaches? Will the banks vary in height and be planted appropriately? Will there be public access, walks and secret bays?

If so — be not bigoted, oh protestors — a dreary and featureless stretch of Oxfordshire will be improved by the reservoir. If on the other hand it is proposed to emulate without imagination the awful bunds at Staines, GARD has my support.

David Knowles, Sutton Courtenay