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Discover more at Wicken Fen
Find out when Wicken Fen is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.
A project by Kathy Hinde in partnership with Wicken Fen, National Trust and Babylon Arts. Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Listen to the Voices of the Fen invites you to actively listen to the voices of many different species at Wicken Fen. Activities and installations will reveal hidden soundworlds we may not usually notice, from underwater, underground and inside trees. Listen from a new perspective by joining us for a listening walk, or wander at your own pace to explore sounds installations, all focussed on the intriguing and captivating soundworlds at Wicken Fen.
This project has 3 phases:
Summer 2024: installation on site with which visitors are invited to engage
Community group workshops and activites, from summer 2024 through to summer 2025; also public workshops and continued listening walks on site
Summer 2025: larger scale installation on site, with launch performance piece co-created by our workshop participants
Wander along the boardwalk to the Roger Clarke Hide and find yourself being bathed in hidden sounds from the Fen. Sounds from underwater and underground are elevated into a series of overhead speakers, inviting you to step in and out of different soundworlds as you approach the Roger Clarke Hide pond. Become immersed in the chirping sounds of underwater invertebrates and crackling sounds of fish from the ponds and lodes. Become curious about sounds hidden deep inside the peat where carbon and time are held.
Recordings have been made from the beginning of 2024 to explore the underwater and underground soundworlds through the seasons in celebration of Wicken Fen’s 125 year anniversary.
Showing every day until 29 September during WIcken Fen’s usual opening hours.
In the visitor centre, there will be an opportunity to listen live to an underwater microphone submerged in a watery location close by. This underwater soundscape will also be live-streamed as part of ‘locus-sonus’ soundmap, streaming soundscapes from all over the world to explore the ever-evolving relationship between sound and place.
There will be more opportunities for listening experiences led by our team of volunteers through the summer as part of this project. Watch this space for details of upcoming Deep Listening Walks to hear the Fen as you've never heard it before.
Find out when Wicken Fen is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.
Arts Council England invest public money from government and the National Lottery to make sure everyone's creativity is given the chance to flourish and we all have access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences.
Wicken Fen was the first nature reserve to be managed by the National Trust. Today it’s one of Europe's most important wetlands and home to over 9,000 species.
Explore the fens on two wheels or on foot. Enjoy an easy family ride to see Konik ponies or discover the wildlife in the wider reserve.
If outdoor activities and learning about nature sound like a good day out for your family, Wicken Fen is the right place for you. Discover everything you need to plan your family day out, from events and activities for kids to hiring bikes.
Find out more about the funding the National Trust receives from grants, and the projects it has helped support.