SUSAN WHITEWAY, of The Mounts, East Allington, writes: Yes, Alexanders in our hedgerows do seem to be prolific and spreading ­increasingly, as pointed out by Mrs Eva Bond, Gazette, May 15. They tend to grow best near sea coasts. The medieval latin name was 'petroselinum alexandrinum', parsley of Alexandria, which gives you a hint as to where it came from and what you can do with it. So, to reduce the number, one can eat the young leaves raw in salads or chop them into fish dishes, soups and stews. The young stems can be braised and eaten like asparagus. The seeds are pleasantly aromatic and can be put into pot pourri when dried, while the root can be used medicinally by herbalists. However, the umbellifer group of plants can be mistaken for one another, and some are extremely poisonous, so beware. And to the verge trimmers. I recently heard about who refused to strim back a verge, thinking the paler, aniseed-smelling Alexanders were giant hog-weed – they are quite ­different. The paler and smaller-leaved greenish-yellow flowered Alexanders may be strimmed with impunity.