Listening to the Wild!

Come join us on May 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM (Europe/London) for an exciting two day event: Listening to the Wild

Immerse yourself in the untamed sounds of your inner and outer wild.

Spring is a time of awakening: soil organisms stir, insects return, amphibians call, and birdsong grows richer. The air literally reverberates with life, offering up the opportunity for renewal and a new way of sensing the world. Spring is the perfect time to undertake a sound and listening immersion which aims to create greater individual and planetary wellbeing.

This retreat invites you to slow down, listen deeply, and reconnect with yourself and the more-than-human world. Through learning the art and practice of Integral Listening (IL) and the use of specialist listening devices - hydrophones, contact and parabolic microphones - you will discover a world hidden from view and one that, once sensed, will provide opportunities for forging deeper connections with the world around you. This process of deep engagement has the aim of fostering greater awareness, enhanced wellbeing, and a renewed sense of kinship with Earth – your only home.

The retreat is designed around three key questions:

• Why listen? Listening deeply reshapes our relationship with the world, enhancing both personal wellbeing and planetary awareness. We’ll explain why listening is key to solving many of the crises we face.
• What to listen to? Through guided sessions, soundwalks, and immersive listening practices, you’ll explore the hidden soundscapes of: soil, water, air, and night. We’ll show you what to listen to using our unique soundscaping approach.
• How to listen? Practical exercises with microphones, hydrophones, and ambisonic techniques will help you experience new sonic worlds and bring new insights into your daily lives. We’ll teach you how to use different practices to enhance your listening experience.

Info: Settle in, meet fellow participants, and ease into the land. Jamie House and Dr Mike Edwards will introduce you to the exciting role listening can play in environmental engagement. This will be followed by an immersive soundscape experience illustrating the power of sound.

Info: Gentle walk around Hawkwood estate so that you can ‘tune in’ to the soundscape of this beautiful location whilst setting intentions for the retreat.

Info:
Introduction to Integral Listening (IL) as a way to foster empathy, curiosity, and deeper understanding of ecological systems.

Info: Communal listening to early morning soundscapes. Experience parabolic microphones to hear without disturbing wildlife. This will help you cultivate attentive listening practices and raise your awareness of the life that often goes unnoticed.

Info: Group session exploring how attentive listening can inspire environmental action. Introduction to Soundscaping for Change (SfC) - a framework that explores how focused listening practices can enhance wellbeing and inform environmental action.

Info: Using hydrophones, probes, and contact mics you will explore soil, roots, mycelium, freshwater, and stream ecosystems. Listening to these hidden worlds will help: raise your awareness of hidden life, deepen your connection to the environment, and foster greater mindfulness, empathy, and care.

Info: Time to journal, wander, or experiment with microphones and recording techniques. Full guidance and tuition provided.

Info: Immersion in nocturnal soundscapes: insects, owls, bats (with detectors), and shifting air currents. This will provide you with opportunities to explore unfamiliar perspectives while attuning to natural rhythms which cannot be seen.

Info: Optional silent or near-silent gathering. You will explore the idea that silence is a key aspect of an attentive listening practice.

Info: Slow, silent walk noticing dawn textures, early bird activity, and environmental shifts. Integrating listening practice into your daily soundwalk activity has proven benefits for health and wellbeing.

Info: Guided time for arts-based creative practice - you will have the opportunity to reflect on your insights, experiences, and the connections you have made during the retreat.

Info: Sharing experiences. You will explore key learnings, and set intentions, for applying listening practices in all aspects of your life.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Hawkwood, Painswick Old Road, Stroud, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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