Let us certainly celebrate the momentous nature of this first sighting, but the “fleeting” violet (Country diary, 25 March)? Never. Here in the Languedoc hills of France, we know where to spot the earliest of these flowers, sheltering in crevices from the January frost. Two months later, they blossom still, spreading in clumps along the woodland paths.
Joan Lewis
St-Etienne-de-Gourgas, France
• Stephen Moss took a copy of Cold Comfort Farm on his visit to interview sheep-farmer James Rebank (28 March) as if the book lampooned the rural way of life – whereas Stella Gibbons’ actual target was the absurd version of that life depicted by Mary Webb and championed by the industrialist baron and Tory prime minister Stanley Baldwin.
Simon Miller
Ashburton, Devon
• You send reporters to a meaningless friendly at the Emirates and a charity match at Anfield (Firmino’s flourish maintains the momentum…; Torres heals his Anfield wounds…; Sport, 30 March), yet send no one to Wembley to report on the magnificent fightback by North Ferriby (population 4,000) from two goals down, with 15 minutes to go, to beat Wrexham and take the FA Trophy. Shame on you and congratulations to the Villagers.
Dave Hanson
Hull
• Apropos Martin Kettle’s criticism of the 18th-century Whig settlement (27 March): try listing the countries of Europe that have not experienced a military dictatorship since 1701.
Martin London
Henllan, Denbighshire
• Who owns the copyright in Prince Charles’s letters (Report, 28 March)? You have my permission to publish this letter.
Michael Holroyd
London
• It’s time to update the rainbow mnemonic “Richard of York gave battle in vain” (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) to “Richard of York got buried in Leicester” – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, lilac.
Alan Berry
Bingley, West Yorkshire
