The photo of a bluebell wood in flower cannot, unfortunately, give a hint of that heavenly scent that wafts through the woods at this time of year (“Growing blue”, 9 May). The picture raises an awareness of an invasive species, Spanish bluebells. These are a dominant species that interbreed with native bluebells. They were introduced as a decorative plant but are replacing our native species. Not only do they lack that gorgeous colour of the native plant but they have no scent. Please destroy this pernicious invader or we shall progressively lose our native, much loved bluebells.
David Hurry
Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex
• Your very revealing exposé of copulating leopard slugs in Hampshire (Country diary, 8 May) must surely be the frontrunner for the Literary Review’s bad sex award: “… long and thick as Cuban cigars … a stalactite, the frosted blue of glacial ice … pressing the flanged ends against one another, fanning them out to form a translucent, petalled globe … apophallation …” The mind truly boggles at what these contortionists get up to!
John Aeberhard
Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire
• Claire Stares’ closely observed coital slugs provided my only moment of levity on a gloomy morning. I tried to read it as a political allegory, but found the slugs’ canny moves too complicated even for the slimiest politicians.
Barbara Crowther
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
• A relatively minor change in the political landscape of this country is hardly “an earthquake”. Your front page headline (9 May) was an insensitive and unfortunate choice of words. Earthquake in Nepal: more than 7,500 dead, millions of homes and livelihoods destroyed. Earthquake in Britain: a few politicians lose their jobs.
Maggie Norman
Grindleford, Hope Valley
• For sale: Borgen series one and two (unwanted gift, used once). Can deliver, north London area.
Dr Mark Wilcox
Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
