TIDY gardeners and Forestry Commission projects to keep the woods in pristine condition for tourists are being blamed for a massive reduction in the dawn chorus.
An expert says the decline is because there are not enough places for songbirds to perch.
Now Review wildlife expert and RSPB official Ivan Proctor is reversing the trend – he has been producing hundreds of artificial 'Standard British Perches.'
"I have been busy since early January making sure there are plenty in local nature reserves, and even though I am on leave this week I am putting more perches in place in preparation for summer migrants which will be arriving from now on," he said.
The dawn chorus, he said, moved continuously around the world with the rising sun, but was particularly impressive in Britain during the nesting season because of the large mix of resident and visiting species coming here to nest.
• April 1 is on Tuesday.