Witness the Wandle

Join us for a deep listening and sonic meditation by the River Wandle.

As individuals and a collective, what can we hear together from the sonic worlds nestled around the river and ponds that make up the Wandle River. An ecosystem of fraught history with humankind – of resilience and survival. Once considered ecologically dead, the Wandle has held on and thrived, home to species such as: brown trout, kingfishers, moorhens, damselflies, and bats – but this resilience is fragile.

In the wake of the recent ecological disaster – come and bare sonic witness to the Wandle and the life it holds.

Participants can join at any time, for any length of time, in this drop-in format. We’ll begin at the bandstand where optional prompts will be shared to help guide your reflections. Then join the collective of witnesses to sit, lie-down or stand – to listen.

Optional materials to make your own sound map are available to create your own responses.

This event is part of At The Meadow’s Edge, Turf’s late summer programme taking place across green spaces in Croydon.

ABOUT LAURA SELBY

Laura Selby is a Croydon based interdisciplinary artist, sonic experience designer and researcher. Fascinated in revealing hidden perspectives and narratives through sonification, from mycelium, moss, concrete to microbe. Her methodologies include extended field recordings, participatory workshops, performance and sculpture to create deeper, empathetic connections and revel in the polyphonic chorus of hidden ecologies. Selby works at the intersection of sound, science, and community, incorporating scientific techniques and emerging sonic machine-learning tools to elevate non-human perspectives and spark critical dialogue.

Laura’s crafted workshops engage communities and expand both personal and collective ways of listening – sharing in research-led encounters that inspire discussion and connection. These have produced outcomes such as her Extended Listening workshops developed in Epping Forest and Omved Gardens alongside Mushroom Community Garden design with The South London Urban Growers (The Remakery). Most recently, creating The Listening Garden, a workshop and installation for the V&A (Feb 2025).

Selby’s work has been exhibited in shows and festivals across the UK and Europe, including Ars Electronica 2024 (Linz), the V&A, Digital Design Weekend 2023 (London), Nieuwe Instituut (Rotterdam), Truman Brewery (London), IRCAM Forum – Centre Pompidou (Paris), E20 Lab Regenerative Fashion Hub (London), The Design Museum (London), Old Street Gallery in partnership with LG (London). Performances include Sonic Contamination at Omved Gardens 2024 and the Tate Modern Lates event April 2024, June 2023 (London), Shirley Dawn at IKLECTIK Art Lab (London) and art film: More Than Concrete at Lewisham Home Film Festival (London).