Free Esher sound walks offer just 15 places each

Plants will help shape the music at the free Woodland Sound Walk Experience at Garsons Farm, Esher, on Thursday 10 September 2026. Elmbridge Borough Council is offering a short walk at 10:30am and a longer walk at 1pm. Registration is required, each session is limited to 15 places, and priority will be given to Elmbridge residents.

The event is aimed particularly at people who want to support their wellbeing through nature and creative activity, including those living with a long-term health condition or affected by cancer personally or as a carer. It may also appeal to people drawn to a gentle, shared outdoor activity.

What happens on the woodland walks

Award-winning composer and sound artist Dr Helen Wilson will lead both guided walks. Participants will explore the woodland, listen mindfully to the sounds around them and record the electrical signals of plants. Those recordings are the participants’ direct contribution to a community arts project, rather than simply a record of the morning or afternoon in the woods.

After each walk, there will be time for reflection and refreshments. The council describes the sessions as gentle and accessible, with the chance to slow down, spend time in nature and meet others.

How the plant recordings become an artwork

Material gathered at Garsons Farm will be transformed into music for a sound installation at Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre in February 2027. Participants will also be invited to an exclusive private viewing of the finished installation. The September walk therefore forms the collection stage of a project with a confirmed public-facing next step the following February.

Choosing a session and planning around the gaps

The 10:30am option is described as the short walk, while the 1pm session is the long walk. No duration or finishing time is supplied for either session, so participants should not assume how much of the day each will require.

The source does not give route, terrain, transport or detailed accessibility information. Anyone who needs those details to decide whether a session is suitable should check them through the registration process before attending.

How to register for a limited place

Only 15 places are available on each walk. Prospective participants should complete the Sounds Walk Registration form provided by Elmbridge Borough Council; submitting the form is the practical next step for anyone hoping to attend.

The event details and registration link were published by Elmbridge Borough Council. The council has not stated a registration deadline, so availability is the key constraint identified in the announcement.

Source: Elmbridge Borough Council