It is great that the government is funding farmers to maintain hedgerows to encourage bees (Leave lawnmowers in the shed, minister says, 4 November) but it was this government that opposed the EU ban on neonicotinoids, and continues to permit extended use of two neonicotinoids, despite the evidence of their devastating impact on bees, birds and mayflies. It seems it’s easier to tell householders to mow less often than challenge the chemical companies.
Dominic Vickers
Oxford
• I didn’t notice the Comment section was all by black commentators (A day of difference, 31 October), just Guardian writers. Aditya Chakrabortty’s article (I’m Bengali and I’m black – in the way that my parents were) contains many reasons why Black History Month is still relevant and why we need a Migration Month to counter the dehumanising throwback in attitude to migration.
Dr Graham Ullathorne
Chesterfield, Derbyshire
• The North Korean news agency, KCNA, has breathlessly announced the release of supreme leader Kim Jong-un’s book, To Protect National Heritage Is a Patriotic Undertaking for Adding Brilliance to the History and Traditions of Our Nation. Unable to purchase a copy, I wonder if John Crace might give us a digested read of this work?
Brian Smith
Berlin, Germany
• Unless you actually put a figure on top of your 5 November bonfire and call it a guy, what you’re celebrating is the older Celtic Beltane fire festival, I think you’ll find (Letters, 4 November).
Henry Malt
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
• Pop star had spider living in ear (Letters, 4 November)? It might not be news, but it brightened my day.
Chris Hughes
Leicester
• I agree you did not need to run the story about Katie Melua and the spider. After all, the web would have covered it.
Michael Cunningham
Wolverhampton
