Mark Cocker writes that bilberry plucking is “very slow work” (Country diary, 18 July). I also found that to be the case until I bought in Norway many years ago a handy little plucker – basically a small wire rake with a box attached. You just brush this through bilberry bushes and the job is done in less than half the time. Inevitably, there is a disadvantage to this method: once at home with your harvest, you then spend ages picking out bits of leaves and twigs. At least by then you are out of range of the flies and midges. Either way, I agree with Cocker that this “delicate harvest” is a once-a-year treat that is eagerly anticipated.
Dr John Osley
Abergele, Clwyd
• I enjoyed Mark Cocker’s piece. Although I can no longer do it myself, I recommend picking bilberries on the north face of Tryfan, Snowdonia. It’s so steep that the sheep don’t go there and eat them, but you don’t have to bend over to pick them.
Jim Grindle
Formby, Merseyside
