Leafmould: take it or leave it
When I was young, we used to roam the beech woods and gather up sacks of leaves for leafmould. These days, though, I’m uneasy about the enthusiasm expressed by Monty Don ( The Full Monty, November issue). Surely leafmould belongs to its own tree? It depends on it for the fungal ecosystem that sustains it, so I feel we ought to leave it where it is (unless it’s piled up in the gutters). Andrew Blount, London
I am the horticulture officer at the award-winning Clifton Park in Rotherham, and we collect our leaves and have huge leafmould piles around the park, which we incorporate into our beds before planting and as a mulch. We have more than we need and members of the public are encouraged to help themselves. Andrea Jones, by email
I have always understood that it is frowned upon or even illegal to collect leaves from anywhere but your own property. We gather leaves from the drive and pathways but leave most of it to be absorbed into the ground. Deborah Roth, by email
We say While it is illegal to collect leaves from Forestry Commission land, there are no such rules governing public streets. Before collecting leaves from a park, you should seek permission from the owner.