COPPICED hazel sticks have long been favoured by gardeners for the growing of peas and beans due to their flexibility, unique shape and environment-friendly nature.

In recent years these have been superseded by bamboo canes imported from the Far East.

Now the management of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust's premier nature reserve - Lower Woods, near Wickwar, is again providing a supply of hazel pea and bean sticks for the discerning vegetable grower and habitat for the rare nightingale, whose song is one of the joys of spring.

The public will be able to hear on Sunday, May 4 both the nightingales benefiting from this work and buy the pea and bean sticks produced from the woods.

Between 4am and 6am experts will be on hand to give a guided walk around the woods and identify nightingale singing as well as many other birds whose dawn chorus will be at its best at this time of year.

Lower Woods is one of the best locations in the area to hear the marvel of the dawn chorus due to its size - more than 700 acres - and variety of habitats which has attracted 58 different types of birds.

Then from 2.30pm pea and bean sticks are on sale at the Dodington Parish Council allotments in Wapley, near Yate, but supplies are limited.

Tom Burditt, assistant manager of Lower Woods, said: "These two events provide a unique opportunity for anyone interested in wildlife to understand more about local conservation. The dawn chorus in a wood of this size is a magnificent, not to be missed, performance. Buying hazel pea and bean sticks is one way of ensuring that nightingales and a variety of other wildlife will continue to thrive. It's a good way for everyone to celebrate spring-time."

Pea and bean sticks are produced by the method of coppicing. This is a traditional, sustainable woodland management practice involving the cutting of broad-leaved species such as hazel to stimulate the growth of a "crop" of poles.

The technique, practised in Lower Woods since at least Roman times declined after the Second World War, but has been brought back by the Wildlife Trust in order to benefit a whole range of species from violets and yellow archangel to silver-washed fritillary butterflies and dormice.

Nightingales, in particular, favour the dense, scrubby habitat created by the young shoots in the years directly following the cutting of coppice. A few pairs arrive from the Continent to settle in the woods each spring.

Those wishing to attend the dawn chorus event can book in advance on 01452 383333 as places are limited. There will be a charge of £3 per adult and £2 per child. Stout footwear is advisable, parking is limited and there are no refreshment or toilet facilities on site.

Lower Woods are freely open at all other times. Information about the reserve and a naturalist's guide book is available from the trust's Gloucester office or at the event of the day.

Dawn chorus birds fact box - A key to birdsong and calls:

* Nightingales - often heard but not seen in early May. Scrub areas on both Hawkesbury Common and the edges of Lower Woods support the majority of the population.

* Song thrush - usually heard as a series of three tones continuously.

* Sparrow hawk - listen to the staccato notes in the breeding season.

* Buzzard - often circling overhead with a clear 'pewing' call.

* Blackcap - flutey warble.

* Garden Warbler - more intense and complicated than the blackcap.

* Green Woodpecker - a long and laughing 'yaffle'.

Pictured: The sunlit floor of the woods is covered with bluebells at this time of the year GJA359H03