Assemblage

In November I'm participating in an art event in Yarner Wood on Dartmoor. The event is a series of interventions, installations and responses to the managed landscape by a group of artists whose current work investigates the landscape and environment and the relationship humans have with them. My contribution will be a quiet space, and quiet sit. More to follow.

The wood between the worlds

On the evening of 11 July a small group of wanderers wandered along lanes, through forest and over heath. Stories were told of alien cats and winged horrors and Honda civics. Of laurel and cyanide. Of sheep rolling and foxes in vans. Rush lights were stripped. Mole hills were excavated and flints sparked. Goatsuckers sang their crepuscular songs while white tissues were waved. Chocolate was eaten. Constellations were traced near the 23rd post. Dark mirrors were gazed at and revealed subtle lights and gentle ripples. And phosphenes danced. And owls called. And the air moved gently. Then it was midnight and the wanderers went home.

This walk was part of Spacex Gallery's Topophobia

Quiet

On the night of 19/20 June 2012 a small group of people sat listening, quietly, overnight by the River Dart at Dartington in Devon, UK. The group were participating in a conference concerned with arts and ecology called The Home and the World (see previous posts). These three recordings are taken before, during and after first light.

Quiet

On the evening of Tuesday 19 June, the first day of the the Home and the World Conference at Dartington, Devon, I’m inviting people to sit quietly on the banks of the River Dart with me any time between 9pm and 8am.

People can sit at dusk, or wander down to greet the dawn. Or join me at midnight. For a minute, and hour or 11 hours. Sunset is 9:21pm, it’ll be dark about an hour after that. First light will be about 3:45am, with sunrise about an hour later. Its a new moon on the 19th.

I’d like people to be quiet. I’d to simply listen to whatever the night brings, otters or bats, rain or cows.

I’d like to sit in the dark.

The wood between the worlds

As part of Spacex Gallery's Topophobia show I was due to do a walk on Haldon Ridge near Exeter last night. But then there was a deluge. So we've postponed it now until 11 July. I'm afraid it's fully booked, with a short waiting list.

April Update

Lots of interesting projects and listenings coming up over the next few months.

On 26-27 May I'll be helping people discover the rich and diverse voices of birds on a course for Wildlwise, details here. This year we'll be based at a woodland camp on the edge of Dartmoor.

On 19-20 June I'm participating in the Home and the World Conference at Dartington Hall in Devon. Billed as a creative summit on arts and ecology it "explores existential questions such as: what does it mean to be at home in the world? what does home mean to us? how can we be more aware of our ‘inhabited place’ in the world? why do we all too often fail to understand the impact we have on the world around us?". My contribution is an overnight sit and listen by the River Dart.

Then on Thursday 14 June I'm leading a walk called "The Wood between the Worlds" as part of the forthcoming Topophobia show at Spacex Gallery in Exeter. This will be a mix of story and listening related to the idea of "fear of place" on a night time exploration of Haldon Forest in Devon.

Murmurations

Another amazing dawn with the starling flock at RSPB Ham Wall in Somerset. With sound artists Kathy Hinde, Matt Davies we recorded the remarkable sounds of half a million starlings as they left their evening roost. I'll post sounds soon, but in the meantime, here's one of photographer John Loman's images of the spectacle.

Riversong - Exe Estuary soundwalk and river cruise

On Sunday February 26 I'll be leading a days soundwalk with Wildwise around the Exe Estuary listening to the sounds of thousands of wintering waterbirds. The day starts at high tide at 10am at the quay in Topsham. From there we'll walk along the banks of the estuary to the RSPBs reserve at Bowling Green Marsh where we'll take in the flights of wading birds and wildfowl as they head back out on to the mud flats. After a leisurely lunch we will head over to Trout's Boatyard for 3pm where we will take a boat trip along the river as low tide passes to get up close to the birds feeding on the rich silts of the estuary.

What to wear and bring: Warm clothing plus boots or wellies. Prepare for rain too! Binoculars if you have them, but not vital as we'll be using our ears!

Lunch: To be confirmed, but there are a number of good pubs and cafe's in Topsham.

Cost: £20 per person

Time: 10am to 4:30pm

Location: Start and end in Topsham

To book contact Wildwise on 01803 868269 or info@wildwise.co.uk

Twilight on the Exe Estuary – now fully booked

As part of the continuing series of Flittermice and Hoots walks, on Sunday, February 5 (4:00pm to 7:00pm) I'm leading a high tide sound walk from the Quay in Topsham, Devon to listen to the river's birds.

Throughout the winter thousands of waterbirds flock to the Exe estuary. Every day, at high tide they leave the estuary and roost communally at a small number of locations around the Exe -one of these is at the RSPB's nature reserve at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham.

The walk is on level ground and mostly on good footpaths. But please bring boots or wellies as one short section can be a muddy. Also - WRAP UP WARM! The estuary is one of the coldest places I know in Devon in Winter! Bring torches as some of the walk will be in the dark.

If you're interested in making sound recordings, bring along a digital or other recording device as there will be many opportunities for capturing the evening's soundscape.

Details and booking here