29th January 2016, Coed Mitchen, Llanfair Caereinion, Mid-Wales - Recorded by Alastair Hotchkiss. This recording was taken using a Tascam DR40 inserted into the openings in the ground, where the root-plate of spruce trees moved up and down as the storm blew.  Amongst the sound of roaring wind it is possible to hear the low groaning noises of the roots being stretched and pulled through the shallow soil, as the tree tries to cling-on and stay standing. Video footage - https://vimeo.com/154301734 .This is a plantation of spruce and larch on the ancient site of what was a native oak-birch woodland in the Mid-Wales hills. 

2016-01-29 Sound of roots moving, during storm at Coed Mitchen, an ancient woodland site, Mid-Wales

11th November 2015, Tyrrels Wood, Pulham Market, Norfolk. Sound by Matthew Robinson and Thomas Wall. An autumnal soundscape of an ancient woodland, named Boscus de Grischave in records dating back to 1251, and now known as Tyrrels Wood. The sound of autumnal leaves in the breeze is punctuated by the faint echos of carrion crows, the call of a blackbird, the distant barking of dogs and ending with the fire-like sound of crisp holly leaves scratching against one another in the wind. A video portrait of this sound recording can be seen here https://vimeo.com/153251702  / http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/wood/4224/tyrrels-wood/ https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/mediafile/100136255/Tyrrels-Wood.pdf  

2015-11-11 Tyrrels Wood, Norfolk. Autumnal soundscape of an ancient woodland.

The sound of forestry machinery at Burrs Wood, Unthank, Derbyshire. Recorded by Tom Reed on 8th March 2016. The clip starts with the sound of a woodland stream and the alarm call of blackbirds as the machinery approaches, and the sound of birds becomes faint in the background.

2016-03-08 Machinery at Burrs Wood, Unthank, Derbyshire - Tom Reed

The sound of modern harvester and forwarder forestry machinery, carrying out felling operations at woodland on the Shanes Castle estate in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Recorded by Tom Reed 2015.

2015 Timber Harvesting at Shanes Castle Wood, County Antrim, Northern Ireland - Tom Reed

A soundscape of Linacre Woods near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, as winter turns to spring. Recorded during February and March 2016, and mixed/produced by Tom Reed as part of the Woodland Trusts Ancient Woodland Soundscapes project. Featuring the sound of woodland birds including great spotted woodpecker, great tit, blackbird, robin, carrion crow, pheasant, along with the running water of a woodland stream.

2016-03-11 Soundscape of Linacre Woods, Derbyshire in Feb/March - Tom Reed

A soundscape of Holme Wood, Loweswater, Cumbria. Produced using field recordings made over 3 days in March 2016, using a Tascam DR-40 and internal mics. This ancient woodland runs from the shores of Loweswater up the 900ft on the fells above, and is a mixture of ancient semi-natural broadleaf woodland and plantations of conifers and beech on ancient woodland sites. The soundscape begins with the lapping lakeshore, the breeze in the trees and the rustling of holly leaves scratching together. Coal tits in the conifer trees, carrion crows, wrens, distant pheasants, blackbirds, and then the great spotted woodpeckers begin. The streams bubble past, a high flying jet aeroplane passes, and a dog-walking family stroll past. The dog barks before splashing through the stream and the footsteps on the stone track fade. A morning jogger runs up the hill, and a group of horse-riders then trot through the wood with the sound of the woodpeckers and nuthatches in the background. The evening lapping of the lake against the shore, and clapping against tree roots, with a small fly and geese, before the evening song of blackbirds and robins, the crackling of wood in the log-burner of Holme Wood Bothy, and the night-time silence occasionally interrupted by distant tawny owls.  

Soundscape of Holme Wood, Cumbria - March 2016 - Alastair Hotchkiss

The Soundscapes of Ancient Woodlands in the British Isles - A project working with sound recordists to collect and share the soundscapes of ancient woodlands around the UK. The aim is to try and capture the acoustic richness and diversity of ancient woodlands - their biogenic and physical sounds, as well as the anthropogenic noise heard within our ancient woodlands today, and the sound of our cultural heritage. It is hoped that by collecting and sharing these recordings, it will help to promote an interest in soundscapes, and the importance of sound as a consideration in in the ecology, conservation and restoration of ancient woodlands. The recordings will also help with the production of podcasts, films, virtual-access to woodlands and interpretation projects.

Ancient Woodland Sounds

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