The National Trust has teamed up with an internationally renowned artist to launch an immersive sound project at an East Cambridgeshire nature reserve.
'Listen to the Voices of the Fen' is a collaborative sound project based at Wicken Fen. It was created by artist, Kathy Hinde, and the National Trust.
Kathy Hinde has been recording sounds underwater, as well as inside trees and deep underground to reveal the 'voices' of the many species at Wicken Fen. The sounds range from the crackling of fish, to underwater insects, and even the sound of peat where time and carbon are locked.
'Sound Pools' have now been installed along the boardwalk, so visitors can listen to the noises through overhead speakers as they walk through the nature reserve.
Wicken Fen is also offering 'Deep Listening Walks', where guests can listen through wireless headphones to Fen sounds that are picked up through microphones.
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The latest offering from the National Trust was created by Kathy Hinde, Wicken Fen and local organisation, Babylon Arts. It was supported by public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
The project was trialled during Wicken Fen's 125th anniversary celebrations in May and it went down a treat with visitors. One participant said: "It was one of the best gigs ever. I have had no other sensory experience like it."
Kathy Hinde said: "Everything in the natural world has a voice. Listening together from new perspectives can foster collective empathy with nature and with each other."
The Sound Polls will be showing every day until September 29 between 9:30am and 5pm, and until 8pm on Thursdays in July and August.
In the Wicken Fen Visitor Centre, a submerged microphone will broadcast live underwater sounds from a patch of water nearby which can be listened to through headphones, or on the project website.
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