The soundworld of a summer woodland enfolds me in the buzzing of insects, the rustling of undergrowth and the gentle stirring of life. But as leaves fall, sound travels further.
With no foliage to insulate me from the outside world, winter becomes a vast landscape of noise. Rumbling traffic and far-off voices are carried on the wind that whips through bare branches. But there are layers, too. Suddenly, my ears are alive to distance, depth and dynamic variation. Even in the hubbub, I can find moments of quiet.
Wrap up warm and sit for a while. Close your eyes and allow your ears to locate you in a new auditory map of the world. Listen beneath the layers of sound and let the silence of winter reach you.
