Sound Sculpture Trail : 18 July - 28 Sept

Listen to the Voices of the Fen

A sound sculpture trail

Launches 2pm Friday 18th July to celebrate World Listening Day

Open every day until 28 September

10am – 4.30pm  (7.30pm Thursdays in July & August)

Staged across a trail of sound sculptures within the ancient landscape of Wicken Fen, Listen to the Voices of the Fen is an invitation to experience the ecologies of the fen through listening.

Created by sound artist Kathy Hinde alongside invited collaborators, the trail unfolds across the Sedge Fen, on the boardwalk and other routes, emerging unexpectedly from the unique environment of the undrained peatland. 

Some sculptures resonate acoustically or draw attention to the sounds around us by provoking a slight shift in perspective. Others are powered by sustainable sources, such as sun, wind, human energy and water.  

Visitors might hear the clink of vessels sculpted from wild clay dug from the nearby peat restoration, the haunting notes of flutes crafted from local willow, and the harmonics of the wind whistling through aeolian instruments. Some works incorporate “hidden” sounds from underwater realms or the depths of a decomposing reed pile, inviting visitors to pay attention to the complex webs of living beings that make up the fen. 

In this project, which also incorporates workshops and digital elements, the act of listening to quiet sounds becomes a tool for noticing the diverse voices of the many species that have shaped – and continue to shape  – this fragile landscape. Listen to the Voices of the Fen asks us to slow down, to listen more deeply, and to tune into our environment. 

Featuring artworks by Kathy Hinde, Oliver Payne, Stevie Wishart, Jan Hendrickse, Amy Wyllie, Matthew Olden, and workshop participants.