This spring 2020, if you live near a road, you may be more aware of birdsong than before, because only essential journeys are being made and engine noise is lower. If you watch the birds, you may notice them gathering nesting materials or food for chicks.
The bird-nesting season is officially February/March to August and in Cornwall, it can start even earlier. We are strongly advised not to undertake tree or hedge cutting outside the nesting season, so consider only hand-trimming diseased or crossing branches you missed, or odd straggly bits that overhang paths and twang you in the face. Otherwise, give garden birds peace to set up homes for their new families.
You might like to leave out grass clippings, hair trimmings or pet fur to be used as nesting material. House martins and swallows need damp mud for modelling their rounded nests (and all birds appreciate the water and insect life provided by a pond or wet area).