Thanks to your correspondent for introducing us rural folk to “cottagecore” – “the latest trend of whimsical outdoor living” (David Beckham leads the way as men flock to ‘cottagecore’ look, 3 July). In Somerset, we call “the romantic sheen of rural life” by the name “mud”, or sometimes “cow shit”. As for city dwellers “daydreaming about pastoral settings, where one could be cosy and feel free from disease”, the farmer in our village who went to Cheltenham races is much missed. He was buried in our pastoral setting some weeks ago.
Terry Gifford
Wookey, Somerset
• People from Hong Kong who come to the UK (Report, 2 July) should be advised to keep all paperwork, however insignificant, in case some future government decides they or their children must prove their right to remain, despite years of paying taxes and contributing to the country.
Christine White
Bingham, Nottinghamshire
• How unfortunate that in the same issue as Helen Scales’ informative article on the wonders of sharks (Why we need sharks: the true nature of the ocean’s ‘monstrous villains’, 6 July) the answer to 15 across in the quick crossword (“Tigers or sharks, perhaps”) should turn out to be “maneaters”.
Rosalind Stevenson
Sheffield
• Your quick crossword is a solace in times of trouble, but not when the solution for “mock orange shrub” is Syringa (G2, 6 July). Syringa is lilac; mock orange is Philadelphus.
Margaret Pelling
Oxford
• Not only do I have difficulty breathing when wearing a face mask (Letters, 5 July), but I also find that my glasses steam up. Does anyone have a solution?
Maureen Panton
Malvern, Worcestershire
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