Like a 'moth to a flame' I,m drawn to Bushy park time and again to listen to skylarks singing, for me, one of the most beautiful sounds in the natural world, almost as enchanting as the vocalisation of a songthrush.

Poet Shelly's 'blythe spirit' evokes a sense of freedom, like a free spirit, as I stroll over the wide open spaces taking care to keep to the paths and not disturb any nesting birds.

Disturbance is the key to their vulnerability because some selfish dog walkers allow their charges to roam without exercising proper control, completely disregarding any wildlife including deer, as long as Fido takes his daily walk.

I'm standing craning my neck watching a lark ascending in full voice until he becomes  a mere speck high above in the blue. He flies in a wide circle over my head several times until after about five minutes of constant song he slowly parachutes earthwards. When a few feet above the sward he closes his wings and dives. Once there he will run along several metres to his nest, a ruse designed to fool any watching predators.

As he touches down another lark begins to rise, them another, both issuing a flood of silvery notes which drift down without a pause.

Many poems and essays have been written about the skylark, the first known being penned by Theocrites as far back as 250 B C followed by famous poets including Shakespeare; Wordsworth; Sir Walter Scott; John Clare; Charles Dickens Emile Bronte and Enid Blyton  to name but a few, for everybody loves the skylark.   .