Your article (‘Unprecedented’ changes in UK climate are normalizing extremes, report says, 15 July) reminded me of the rhyme to help people convert from fahrenheit to centigrade when I was a schoolgirl in the late 60s. This was “five, 10 and 21 – winter, spring and summer sun”, denoting the then average temperatures. Maybe this could be updated for the 2020s. I was thinking of “10, 15, 28 – reduce emissions before too late”.
Liz Haggart
Bearsted, Kent
• Of all the inequalities in education, access to tree shade would not be high on my list (Private schools offer 41% more tree shade than state schools in England, 16 July). It’s a poor metric, as if a state school is forced to sell an open playing field, the proportion of its site covered by trees could increase. I would look at the extent of air-conditioned classrooms first.
Peter West
London
• Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett writes that learning languages slows brain ageing (12 July). I enjoy learning Italian idioms. The one to match “it’s another kettle of fish” is e un altro paio di maniche (“it’s another pair of sleeves”). Still trying at 88.
Les Bonney
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
• As a Crystal Palace fan, I was perturbed that among the words I found in the Word Wheel (13 July print edition) were “eagle” and “relegated”. Is this a worrying portent?
John Bryant
Topsham, Exeter
• The letter from Laura Matthew (As a frontline worker, my anger over the Tories’ handling of Covid has not abated, 16 July) should be engraved in stone and made a national monument.
Leila Roberts
Mickley, North Yorkshire
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