Songbirds celebrated with six-week long festival at known sites for nightingales

Nightingale numbers have dropped by 90% over the last 50 years Credit: RSPB

The nightingale is famous for its beautiful song - with its fast notes that few other birds can match.

But it's a song that's dying out. Nightingale numbers in Britain have fallen by 90% in the last 50 years. Now, they don't stray beyond the south and east of England.

So wildlife groups have organised a six-week long festival at known nightingale sites to celebrate this most famous songbird.

One farmer, Nick Lear, has been coppicing his woods near Lewes to attract the songbirds and will be hosting one of the festival's events.

But the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is warning that Britain's best site for nightingales is under threat of development. Abigail Bracken's report includes an interview with the RSPB's Adrian Thomas and includes RSPB footage of nightingales.

You can find a list of the events in the nightingale festival here.