Sadly the red red robin might not be bob bob bobbin’ along in the UK’s front gardens. The recent trend for decking, patios, gravel, and let’s face it “low maintenance” gardens may be contributing to a decline in song thrushes, house sparrows and starlings, the RSPB has warned.

Richard Bashford said that even small “traditional” front gardens can house more than 700 different species of insect. Food for the birds.

(I’m afraid that garden makeover programs have a lot to answer for. Not many animals can live on tarmac.)