I OFTEN go for a walk in the evening, as the birds are twittering their final notes before bed. It’s lovely to hear and I find I don’t think of anything else when I’m listening to it.

I was not surprised to learn that, according to a study, listening to birdsong while out exercising not only boosts physical health but mental wellbeing. The research, by Colorado State University in the USA, found the melodies helped to combat stress. I can vouch for that. There are few sounds more wonderful than birdsong. I’m not so keen on the 4am dawn chorus, however, when that strikes up in summer.