We're delighted to introduce our very first special edition audiodoc, composed by our Audio Lead Hiren Parmar. Hiren explores the ancient eco-cultural history of birdsong, reflecting on ways these melodies have influenced and inspired humankind. Considered research and storytelling make for a stunning audio journey through time and space, so that we might think twice next time we hear a garden wren or spot a feathered friend.

The music of plants is a seldom explored form of connection with the natural world, yet the possibilities of exploring a communicative language with natural, silent, organic matter are more alive than we might imagine. Over the course of one hour, you’ll meander through a mix made from plants, sound art and ambient music. While this mix is designed to be an immersive experience to be listened to in one sitting, we’d invite you to revisit this mix to experience layers of sounds you might have missed the first time.

Once a staple of the Ukrainian landscape, Carpathian water buffalo populations in southern Europe dwindled during the 20th century. In 2021, Kitty Horlick tracked down Michel Jacobi, a self-sustaining farmer who is coaxing the species back to life, to find out more about his extraordinary vision. Written by Kitty Horlick Read by Holly O’Neil Score by Dan Parr Intro / Outro by Pearl Fish & Harvey Gibbons Produced by Hiren Parmar Originally published as an article in Issue 7

In his Modern Nature diaries, filmmaker and writer Derek Jarman recorded his cultivation of a garden at a desolate, shingle beach at Dungeness, on the UK’s South Coast. When the garden was threatened by private development in 2020, Alexander Harris turned to Jarman’s works, and found a polymath guerrilla gardener who challenged a traditional treatment of England’s ecology, championing ‘deliberate living’ in the face of climate inertia. Written by Alexander Harris, read by Dan Parr Produced by Hiren Parmar Intro / Outro by Erik Satie Score by Wendy Marcini Originally published as an article in Issue 5

Forensic Architecture’s Imani Jacqueline Brown has been researching the health impacts of the tear gas used in the US against Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020. She traces these toxic chemicals back to the factories in which they’re created, and finds pollution and racism intertwined at every step. Written by Imani Jaqueline Brown, read by Soraya Ali Score: Light in the Sorrow by Wildflower Intro & Outro: Separation by Alice Boyd Produced by Hiren Parmar Originally published as an article in Issue 9 Release date: April 28th

Netflix Reality TV smash hit Selling Sunset treats viewers to high-end homes, glamorous real estate agents and impressive views of the LA skylines – as seen by the rich and famous. But LA has also been the epicentre of increasingly intense summer wildfires. Leila Sackur asks whether luxury property is making the impacts of the climate crisis worse for ordinary people. Written by Leila Sackur, read by Matilda Rowe Score by Oscar Hollis, Intro & Outro by Fabian Tell Produced by Hiren Parmar Originally published as an article on itsfreezinginla.com in 2020 Release date: April 14th 2023

The Bahamas relies heavily on tourism, and more recently Ecotourism. Bahamians must balance the impact of visitors who damage the reefs, and the need for funding to support the natural wonders that they come to see. Christina Ivey reveals that recent ecotourist proposals have proven to be smokescreens for large industrial projects, and that revenue that should be used to protect the island from ecological degradation is being funnelled elsewhere. Article by Christina Ivey Read by Charlie Rowe Produced by Hiren Parmar Design by Steph Glover

In 2012, the Rio Verde project promised to reinvigorate Lima’s River Rimac, and to safely rehome the Indigenous Shipibo community living in Cantagallo, along its banks. By 2016, the project had been scrapped in favour of a new motorway bypass, and Cantagallo burned to the ground. Carolina Salazar investigates a story of loss, corruption, and capitalism. By Carolina Salazar Read by Elliot Balchin Produced by Hiren Parmar Design by Steph Glover

Alexander Harris explores the piazza-fication of our urban areas, finding solace in a little-known branch of green activism. By Alexander Harris Read by Bill Milner Produced by Hiren Parmar Design by Steph Glover

Lebanon’s political landscape is dominated by sects of many colours – all vying to expand their power bases. In this article, Ibrahim Kombarji looks at the way that these sects have championed environmental projects as a guise for reinforcing loyalty, establishing extractive economic monopolies and to further increase their geographic influence. In the process, he argues, Lebanon’s landscape has been fragmented into a series of increasingly degraded ‘sectarian ecologies.’ Article by Ibrahim Kombarji Read by Bethan Screen Music by Oscar Hollis Produced by Hiren Parmar Design by Steph Glover