Mary Montague (Country Diary, 26 April) beautifully describes a great tit nestling learning to sing in a quieter world last year. Our local blackbird is also likely to have been born last year. He sings a striking song imitating ambulance sirens. He includes the long wail and the short whaa whaa, and has been known to startle our builders into thinking that an alarm has been set off. His amazing capacity for imitation has captured the spring of 2020.
Jill Moss
Chester
I read with interest the article detailing the difficulty in establishing an alternative location for our Trident nuclear deterrent in a suitably remote place ( 26 April). Faslane, the current location, is 26 miles from Glasgow city centre and there is effectively a continuous conurbation from its south gate to the centre on both sides of the Clyde.
Charles Coull
Troon, South Ayrshire
How our hearts bleed for all those Guardian readers who have to search the front garden or porch for their “delivery” (Letters, 26 April). We have to drive three miles (each way) to collect ours from our nearest shop. Our posties used to deliver (as a special favour) until the rounds were changed, and even then we would have to wait until mid-afternoon for its appearance. Delivery? Pah.
Sam Doncaster and Pat Mitchell
Holsworthy, Devon
Here in Romford we have to “search for” the Guardian.
Nora Dunn
London