Readers tempted to follow our Gardens column last week and harvest the young shoots of Japanese knotweed to cook into tarts, jellies, crumbles or chutneys (“Plagued by knotweed? Why not eat it?”, Magazine, page 59), should be sure to pick only from their own gardens. The removal, transport and disposal of Japanese knotweed is controlled by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Environmental Protection Act 1990. If the requirements of these regulations are not adhered to this can lead to the spread of the weed to other sites. The plant, however, cannot be effectively propagated by removing the young shoots.
An Inner Life article headlined “The truth about false memories” (Magazine, 14 February, page 68) should not have been attributed to AR Hopwood. It was based on an interview with the artist and was written by Megan Carnegie Brown.
A book review headlined “You don’t have to be mad to waltz here” (New Review, 14 February, page 34) began: “In 1908, when the newly appointed home secretary Winston Churchill arrived in office…” Churchill did not become home secretary until 1910; in 1908, he was president of the Board of Trade.
Write to Stephen Pritchard, Readers’ Editor, the Observer, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU, email observer.readers@observer.co.uk tel 020-3353 4656
