
Leave them hanging on the telephone
Re fostering a love of reading in children (Letters, 6 May), one of my fondest memories of my teaching career was story time in the infant class in a local village school. Most of the children came quite a distance on buses. They adored Michael Rosen's poetry. There were many afternoons when it was home time and they would shout: 'Please read another Michael Rosen one, Mrs Mansfield, the driver won't mind waiting.' What a privilege to teach them. Janet Mansfield Aspatria, Cumbria
Your article (How to create a more eco-friendly lawn, 6 May) advises us to reduce our environmental impact by swapping a petrol mower for an electric one. Better advice would be to choose a push mower – beneficial to the environment and the owner's physical health.Mike DavisWeymouth, Dorset
It didn't take long for the 'quick' beginners cryptic crossword to become fiendish. Please have mercy on us older learners who take longer to get up to speed.Robert KelsoFrome, Somerset
Re digestives (Letters, 6 May), other biscuits are available.Colin Prower Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
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The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘Deeply concerning': reading for fun in the US has fallen by 40%, new study says
The amount of Americans who read for pleasure has fallen by 40%, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Florida and University College London have found that between 2003 and 2023, daily reading for reasons other than work and study fell by about 3% each year. The number saw a peak in 2004, with 28% of people qualifying, before falling to 16% in 2023. The data was taken from more than 236,000 Americans who participated in the American Time Use Survey and the study was published in the journal iScience. The definition of reading in the survey wasn't limited to books; it also included magazines and newspapers in print, electronic or audio form. Jill Sonke, study co-author, called it 'a sustained, steady decline' and one that is 'deeply concerning'. 'Reading has historically been a low-barrier, high-impact way to engage creatively and improve quality of life,' Sonke said. 'When we lose one of the simplest tools in our public health toolkit, it's a serious loss.' While all groups saw a decline, there were bigger drops among certain groups such as Black Americans, people with lower incomes or education levels, and those in rural areas. More women than men also continue to read for fun. Daisy Fancourt, study co-author, said: 'Potentially the people who could benefit the most for their health – so people from disadvantaged groups – are actually benefiting the least.' The study also showed that those who read for pleasure have tended to spend even more time reading than before and that the number of those who read with their children hasn't changed. 'Our digital culture is certainly part of the story,' Sonke said of explanations to the figures. 'But there are also structural issues – limited access to reading materials, economic insecurity and a national decline in leisure time. If you're working multiple jobs or dealing with transportation barriers in a rural area, a trip to the library may just not be feasible.' Last year in the US, sales of physical books rose slightly after two years of declines. Adult fiction was the main driver, with Kristin Hannah's The Women leading the pack. The literacy level in the US is estimated to be about 79%, which ranks as 36th globally.


BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Brothers rescue 'terrified' swimmer from dolphin at Lyme Bay
Two kayakers have described rescuing two women in separate incidents after a dolphin began pushing them underwater. Brothers Rhys and Gareth Paterson said they saw the animal jump on one swimmer's back and force her head below the surface at Lyme Bay in Dorset on Thursday. "She was kind of gasping for air," said Rhys. "She was terrified." They later saw the dolphin do "exactly the same thing" to another from the Marine Management Organisation have warned that dolphins are "unpredictable wild animals" and advised swimmers to stay at least 100m (328ft) away. The bottlenose dolphin, known as Reggie to locals, was first spotted in the bay earlier this year and has become a regular visitor - to the excitement of residents and tourists. While many have welcomed his visits, marine experts say human interaction can cause dolphins to lose their natural wariness and become appears to be what the brothers witnessed when they spotted the first swimmer in distress about 200m (656ft) from shore. Rhys said they saw the dolphin jump on the woman's back. "We thought he was doing what he normally does – just a bit of fun," he said. But after hearing her scream, they paddled over and saw the dolphin repeatedly push her head bringing her back to shore, they returned to the water and saw the same dolphin targeting another woman, who was holding onto a yellow buoy while "looking panicked". Rhys said swimmers should try to get back to shore as quickly as possible if they spot the animal."I think it's only a matter of time before the dolphin gets hurt or someone gets seriously hurt," he said. "It is a wild animal, as exciting as it is."I think it's up to everyone now to start respecting its space a little bit more."If we weren't there that day I think something bad could have potentially happened."


BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
Beaver rescued near toilet block in Dorset returned to wild
A beaver, released into the wild by the National Trust, has been rescued from a stream near public toilets, several miles from its original home. The National Trust was first alerted to news the beaver had been spotted in Swanage town centre in Dorset in May. After setting up cameras and checking identification tags, staff were able to confirm the female was part of a project to establish a beaver population at Studland Nature Trust project manager Gen Crisford said she was "surprised" to find the beaver so far from home and arranged for it to be returned to the reserve on safety grounds. In March, a licence was granted for the first time in England to release two pairs of beavers into the wild at Little Sea. Previous licences had only been granted for need areas of deep, fresh water but have been known to travel along the coast to look for new lodgings. The National Trust believes the female swan about 5km (3 miles) around Old Harry Rocks on the Purbeck coast after leaving its lodge."We had considered that that was a route that was possible but we thought it was a bit too far," Mr Crisford explained. "Seeing one turn up in a stream in Swanage town was a big surprise." The animal created a new lodge by a toilet block at King George's playing field. It is a well known dog-walking area and as the stream is not particularly deep, the National Trust opted to return it to Studland over safety Crisford said: "We decided that on this particular occasion that it would be best for the animal and the project if we took her back and reintroduced her at the lake she was at in the beginning."Staff discovered a nick on the beaver's tail and think it may have fled the original area after a fight with another beaver. At least one of the family of beavers has had two new kits this year. "They are very cute," Mr Crisford said, encouraging members of the public to visit the bird hides in the reserve where the kits can be seen "bobbing like corks" in the water. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.