This column was scheduled to be one of those wildlife review of the year affairs until something happened to force a re-think. Something which showed me first-hand what a restorative force nature can be.

On December 19 came bombshell news that London would go into Tier 4 as an anti-Covid measure. The eager anticipation of a five-day festive treat with loved ones metamorphosed into a no-go area for family meetings. Even on Christmas Day.

It took a while to realise that, for the first time in their lives, I couldn’t be there as excited grandchildren’s faces lit up while ripping pretty paper from gifts. The most joyous sight of any year had been taken away.

Wild Things: Two Turtle Doves

A sleepless night followed and I rose with a black cloud of depression settled above my head. In the kitchen I stifled a sob, reached for the kettle and then bird song exploded from the garden. A robin perched atop the berry-laden holly bush sang with the gusto of a cathedral chorister. Not just the soft, mournful warble associated with robins in winter but a full-throated, head-in-the- air, beak-wide-open, body-trembling song.

It seemed to be singing: don’t worry, everything will be okay. But of course it was really shouting to rivals: I’m here. This is my place. Stay away.

We love robins for being friendly to us. Yet the bird which accepts mealworms from our hands sometimes ferociously attacks and kills territorial rival birds.

Known as “redbreast” until the 20th century, a robin's breast is actually orange. Well you can’t have the “orange, orange robin came bob, bob, bobbing along” in that popular song. Spoils the rhythm.

Wild Things: A year in literature

The robin is said to have acquired its “red” breast when blood spilled on it as it tried to remove a thorn from the crown of Christ on the cross. There are around six million in Britain boosted by visitors from Europe seeking milder winter temperatures. They are all welcome. The song drove off my black cloud and lifted flagging spirits.

Why not encourage your local robin to produce a cheering chorus or two by throwing out some mealworms for it ?

Happy New Year to readers and your robins. It's just got to be better than 2020.