Many of us have probably spent more time in our houses and gardens since March 2020 than ever before. It’s been a year apart, a time for weeding and planting, painting and tidying. For many it has also been a time for taking more notice of the natural world around us. Many report that they’ve never seen so many birds and heard so much birdsong. “Are birds singing louder this year?” has been a frequent question. For some this is a first, taking time to watch a sparrow taking a