Portfolio
Iron Age Somerset Levels
During the late Iron Age, the Somerset Levels was a vast wetland spanning approximately 160,000 acres; a mosaic of open shallow water, wet woodland, reed swamp and sedge fen. This extensive ecosystem supported a unique assemblage of species that did not wholly prevail into the modern era.
Archaeological excavations at the lake villages of Glastonbury and Meare in Somerset revealed bones of several bird and mammal species hunted and eaten by the local communities. By obtaining and re-assembling modern sound recordings of these species, it was possible to reimagine the soundscape of the Somerset Levels during the Iron Age.
Late Glacial Cave
This is a reimagined cave soundscape from the late Glacial Period. Guided by the faunal remains excavated from Pin Hole Cave at Creswell Crags, Derbyshire, 25 real audio recordings have been carefully assembled to provide an auditory snapshot of Ice Age Britain.
Between 60,000 and 25,000 years ago, during the middle of the last glacial period, the climate was cold, though not as extreme as at the height of the glaciation. Britain’s landscape was home to a variety of cold-adapted species, including wolves, cave lions, reindeer, woolly mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, and cave hyenas.
Hyenas are believed to have used caves as dens, where they not only lived but also brought in the remains of their prey. As a result, these caves contain evidence of a wide range of animal species from this era.
Restore Soundscape
Restore is a nature restoration company who commissioned this soundtrack to remind the public, farmers and landowners of the missing bird chorus in our landscape. 50 years ago, there would have been a far greater abundance of overall birdsong in our countryside. Restore’s mission is to help put this back, one farm and estate at a time. Click the icon below for more information:
English village house in 1941
This experimental historic soundscape was a change from my normal comfort zone of natural history soundscapes. I actually used memories of my grandparents large house in Slindon West Sussex, waking up in the bedroom facing the church lane, heading out to the gate to drop off the empty milk bottles and back inside for breakfast.
6,000 years of forests
In 2022, I was commissioned by the Woodland Trust and Sophie Yeo’s Inkap journal to create a series of auditory dioramas that demonstrate the changes to Britain's woodlands from the Mesolithic period to the present day, including predictions for their future. The project comprised seven short soundscapes, representing key time periods for our woodlands: the ‘baseline’ Mesolithic (6,000 years ago), the Medieval era (600 years ago), the post war 20th century (60 years ago), the present day, and two speculative futures projecting 60 years ahead; one positive and one negative. These soundscapes were designed to accompany a visually captivating article written by Sophie Yeo and illustrated by Elin Manon, which analysed the transformations in Britain's woodlands over time. The article explored the causes of these changes, their impact on biodiversity, and the evolving relationship between people and woodlands. Link to article: https://www.inkcapjournal.co.uk/six-t... The density and diversity of species featured were informed by a combination of personal experiences in modern British and European temperate woodlands, records from Derek Yalden’s A History of British Birds, 19th and 20th c. bird books, and historic bird census records from the BTO. It’s also worth noting that while the soundscapes were researched to the best of my ability, creative license was also employed, particularly when gaps in data existed.
English Meadow 1901
Since 1970 there has been a 48% decline in British farmland bird species. This is a result of extensive habitat loss, and a shift from subsistence farming to large intensive agriculture; a process which started after World War II. Based on written accounts from the late 19th to early 20th century, it is clear that the composition and density of bird species during this period was very different to what we see today. Using this information as a guide, we carefully mixed more than 50 individual (modern) audio recordings, aiming to replicate the forgotten soundscape of the British countryside.
Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows 1830
Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows was painted by John Constable between 1830 and 1837. This is a 3-D soundscape created using the painting as a guide.