By Bernie Bell
We’ve driven past The Loons RSPB reserve many times, but never stopped to visit the hide and look about us – I suppose because it’s on the way to other places where there are walks to go on.
The car park for the hide was full, so we decided to go to the Listening Wall instead, which is about half a mile along the road from the hide, and which we’ve previously noticed in passing and thought it looked appealing.
This structure was inspired by the parabolic sound mirrors built in some areas of the South and North-east coasts of England between circa. 1916 and the 1930’s. They gave early warning of approaching enemy aircraft but as aircraft developed and became more sophisticated the sound mirrors became less effective in revealing their presence, and were finally made obsolete by the advent of radar.
http://www.andrewgrantham.co.uk/soundmirrors/
The Listening Wall works in a similar way – amplifying the sounds of the life in the area around it.
There is a small car park, from which we could look across to the pools and reed beds of the Reserve.
..and see the Listening Wall in front of us
On the path on the way down to the Wall there are wildlife inspired poems by the children of Dounby Community School which have been carved into stones by Frances Pelly.
Soaring – singing – slicing
Through the atmospheric air
The crescendo sounds of nature
Within a soothing lullaby
The vibrating music of the darting snipe
Robotic sounds
Late in spring night
Bright Sedge-warbler
Summer sky song
Sharp sounding
Scratchy voices
Through the autumn breeze
Flying in squiggly Vs
Pink-footed geese
Yap like puppies
Restless rustling reeds
In the wintry winds
Swaying hissing dancing
They go.
Inside the curve of the wall
And – what you might see or hear if you stand or sit and… listen
I’m thinking…on a fine evening…as the light is fading….what a place to be….
Some other examples of carving by Frances Pelly