WE are constantly told about a decline in our garden bird population.

The lady from Dunnington already pointed out that most of them happily live on her farm.

May I add that if everybody plants a cotoneaster in their garden, they also can watch the birds, especially blackbirds, feasting on the masses of bright berries, totally ignoring the fact that I planted them solely to enjoy a bit of colour during the winter months.

The entire blackbird population of this country seems to stuff their little faces in this free-for-all. But as a reward, they are singing their little hearts out for me in the spring. Aaaahhhhhhh!

Barbara Hudson, Badger Hill, York