Country diary: a battle to protect birdsong and biodiversity

Otley, West Yorkshire: A planned development of 550 homes and a major new road could permanently damage local wildlifeAs the days build and brighten, so does the background texture of birdsong, which gathers vibrancy with every passing week. It was subtle at first; a new vitality in the sound of robins and wrens, noticeable not long after new year. But in more recent weeks, blackbirds, goldfinches, curlews, song thrushes and skylarks have entered the fray, threading new colours into the overall