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On a happy note, starts singing in verdant places (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

glades

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'singing in verdant places' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both locations as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'on a happy note starts' is the wordplay.
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a happy' becomes 'glad' (I've seen this before).
'note' becomes 'e' (musical note).
'starts' becomes 's' (this could be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
'glad' put next to 'e' is 'glade'.
'glade'+'s'='GLADES'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for glades that I've seen before include "Open spaces in forests" , "You can see the wood for the trees when you get into these" , "Clear tracts in the middle of woods" , "Open spaces in woods" , "Clear tracts in the middles of woods" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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