Sonic Pond Dipping

An arts-based approach to learning about freshwater ecosystems and acoustic ecology.

Fun, practical workshops that offer young people the chance to discover their own freshwater adventures.

Sonic pond-dipping introduces people to the hidden soundscapes of their local pond. Listening to invertebrates, amphibians, and even aquatic plants, offers a curiosity-driven approach to learning about freshwater ecology.Underwater technologies are explored as creative tools whilst focussed interaction with blue spaces enhances well-being in general.

listen to underwater soundscapes

“Thank you for doing something different. There are a lot of art events and craft activities but this was something totally different and lots of fun. We’d love to do it again!”

case study

The first group of sonic pond-dippers arrived at a nature reserve in County Durham in February 2022. Instead of nets, they clasped headphones. In their hands were audio recorders, not white specimen trays.

become a citizen-scientist for the day

Pond soundscapes remain
under-researched. The sounds recorded during workshops feed into research being undertaken by a global team of acoustic ecologists.

Purchase your own hydrophone

Want to contribute your own recordings? You can purchase your own AquaBeat hydrophone right here - exclusively available in the UK through this website!Developed by David Rothenberg, it works with any recording device that has a 3.5mm input and is specifically designed for freshwater environments. For more information, or if you need assistance, send an email using the form below.For full technical details, check out the official AquaBeat website. Below is a recording made with this hydrophone:

book your listening experience

Can be arranged for family events, public engagement activities, academic conferences, or ecological workshops.

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Discover Festival - can you spot the species in this recording?

Click 'play' and press the 'comments' button to view time-stamped species, including little known aquatic sounds...

It is night time on the Wallington Estate.
In the wide open spaces of Northumberland only the trees provide shelter from the wind and rain.Through the darkness, the voices of nocturnal animals are picked up by microphones. There are sounds that humans can’t hear but their frequencies can be transposed into our hearing range.Natural dams, built by the reintroduction of beavers, create ever-increasing wetlands. Beneath the water, hydrophones pick up the sounds of various freshwater residents who often come out to enjoy the moonlight.Sunlight spreads across the pond’s still water, activating a sea of rhythms that go unnoticed by human ears. A fresh Spring day welcomes visitors whilst the underwater sounds remain hidden...

All recordings were made at the National Trust’s Wallington Estate, Northumberland as part of the Wilder Wallington project in partnership with Newcastle University. Audio recorded and compiled by David de la Haye from recordings made between October 2023 and May 2025.