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Listen to the Voices of the Fen

A group of visitors stood in a line listening with a microphone
Deep Listening Walk at Wicken Fen | © National Trust/ Mike Selby

A project by Kathy Hinde in partnership between Wicken Fen and Babylon Arts. Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

The Listen to the Voices of the Fen project has now finished. It invited visitors to actively listen to the voices of many different species at Wicken Fen. Installations revealed hidden soundworlds we may not usually notice, from underwater, underground and inside trees. Visitors could 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.

Sound map

Check the project website for other resources including a Wicken Fen sound map.

Live hydrophone stream

In the visitor centre, you can listen live to an underwater microphone submerged in a watery location close by. This underwater soundscape is being 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. Listen to the live stream here

There are also headphones in the visitor centre and the Roger Clarke hide for visitors to enjoy underwater sounds.

Collaborating Artists

The project's lead artist Kathy Hinde was joined by collaborating artists Amy Wyllie and Oliver Payne and musician Stevie Wishart.

Visitors at Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire

Discover more at Wicken Fen

Find out when Wicken Fen is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.

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Our partners

Arts Council England

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.

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Wildlife at Wicken Fen 

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.

Male reed bunting singing from a perch at Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire

Outdoor activities at Wicken Fen 

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.

A group walking in Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire

Family-friendly things to do at Wicken Fen 

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.

A girl playing with leaves in the autumn

Grants and funding 

Find out more about the funding the National Trust receives from grants, and the projects it has helped support.

Birds eye view of the kitchen garden project at Florence Court, County Fermanagh

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