Letter: Birds go live in test transmission

Sir: I wonder whether any other readers have enjoyed the current test transmissions of Classic FM on the wireless; continuous periods of bird songs, recorded I should think in a London park. I have pre-set my car radio to the local frequency in place of Radio 1, so much nicer. The effect is quite soothing, even the occasional low frequency test whoops and whistles are hardly noticed and certainly less bothersome and depressing than the regular news interruptions on BBC radio.

Could not the BBC or some enterprising radio station undertake similar early-morning broadcasts on a regular basis? It might replace such programmes as Today. Instead of Brian and Sue, with the usual doom-laden matins of local and world mayhem and disaster to begin our day, a more elevating dawn chorus: birds singing.

Yours faithfully,

R. P. WARNER

Warwick,

Warwickshire

24 July