Why respect for our elders is needed | Brief letters

Toxic trees | Drowning out toilet noises | Monochrome Baftas | Proof of middle age | Overworked teachers"Elder was thought of as evil," writes Mark Cocker (Country diary, 20 February). The folklore says that you should never bring it indoors - to burn it brings death and disaster. This isn't entirely surprising, as elder contains cyanogenic glycosides and volatile neurotoxic alkaloids that are released when burned. Hence: "Burn it not or cursed ye be."Crispin PartridgeWhittington, Norfolk? A little bit of Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin should kill any bodily function noises emanating from a toilet cubicle, and offer a singalong opportunity for a number of users at the same time (Decades on, I am still traumatised by my visit to the school toilets, 15 February).Helen OrmeWidnes, Cheshire Continue reading...