It would be unimaginable to have a world without the natural songs of nature: the bird chorus of dawn; the chirruping of crickets – the glories of insect music;  frogs’ booming bassoon;  singing beetles.

Today marks the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson’s masterpiece, “Silent Spring”.    Recognised as one of the most influential books of the twentieth century, Carson exposed the destruction of wildlife through the widespread use of pesticides and the long term detriment to the environment.  Where would we be today without her courage at exposing the the toxic effects of DDT on animals and particularly birds?