Listening and the Soundscape in Garden Design

Discover how sound and listening can inspire the creation of gardens that support the wellbeing of both people and planet.

This immersive one-day workshop invites participants to explore how sound - and the practice of deep listening - can transform the way we design, experience, and care for gardens, supporting both human wellbeing and ecological flourishing.

Garden design has traditionally prioritised visual aesthetics, focusing on form, colour, and structure. Yet in the face of climate change, biodiversity loss, and other environmental challenges, it is time to expand this perspective. By engaging additional sensory dimensions, designers can play a more active role in shaping resilient and regenerative landscapes.

Through a blend of theory, discussion, and hands-on practices, participants will:

• Discover deep listening as a powerful design tool
• Learn how sound reveals hidden ecological relationships
• Explore the roles of geophony, biophony, and anthropophony in garden design
• Apply sound-aware approaches to create richer, more biodiverse environments
• Examine the role listening can play in engaging end users with projected designs
• Consider the use of soundings/auralisations as communication tools for promoting a wilder aesthetic in garden design

By asking the simple question - what do we want our gardens to sound like? - we will reimagine the garden not just as a visual space, but as a dynamic, living soundscape.

Facilitators and speakers

• Arit Anderson - garden designer, writer, and television presenter
• Usue Ruiz Arana - chartered landscape architect, researcher, and educator
• Adam Hunt - nature lover, landscape designer, and ecologist
• Harry Coade - music producer, sound designer, mix engineer, and musician
• Mike Edwards - environmentalist, author, musician, and listening advocate