Following Alan Rusbridger’s police warning for using a tripod on Hampstead Heath, described as “the nearest bit of nature to our King’s Cross office” (Nicked. After all these years, 13 March), may I draw his attention to Camley Street natural park, located within 500m of the Guardian offices? We’ve got grassland, woodland and ponds and will be celebrating our 30th anniversary this spring. Alan would be very welcome to nip over at any time for a taste of nature, just about seven minutes’ walk from the office.
Ian Tokelove
Communications and campaigns senior officer, London Wildlife Trust
• After my consultant referred to me as “a very pleasant lady” in a letter to my GP (Notes and queries, 5 March), I told him I would rather he called me a woman, as “lady” is a euphemism, a polite way of referring to an adult female, avoiding any sense of the body. It is the job of hospital consultants to deal with our bodies, so it is ridiculous for them to use this word. The consultant agreed to avoid it in future, but he has also avoided referring to me as a woman – he just repeats my name every time he has to refer to me in his reports. This shows how taboo the word “woman” has become.
Jennifer Coates
Emeritus professor of English language and linguistics, University of Roehampton
• Opera remains the preserve of the rich (Will Self, 14 March)? A ticket to see Opera North at Leeds Grand Theatre costs £15; a ticket to watch Leeds United at Elland Road costs £36. Simple maths will tell you that £15 for three hours of sublime music is better value than £36 for 90 minutes of mediocre football.
Mary Barber
Huddersfield
• “If we give children the roots, they will grow wings and fly” has to be my favourite school slogan (Letters, passim).
Toby Wood
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
