The Value of Birdsong: How Biodiversity Shapes Health, Wellbeing and Decisions about Nature

Have you ever noticed how birdsong can change the way you feel?

Join us for a FREE event at RHS Wisley on 22nd October and discover why the sounds of nature may matter more to our health and wellbeing than we realise.

Dr Melissa Marselle from the University of Surrey will lead a fascinating, interactive exploration of the hidden connections between birdsong, biodiversity and our own health and wellbeing, as part of RHS Wisley’s Hilltop Live series. 

Using immersive recordings of birdsong from different habitats, Melissa will share research exploring how natural sounds can influence how we feel, including our sense of restoration and awe, our stress levels and wellbeing, and even the value we place on protecting and restoring natural habitats.

You’re invited to experience the research for yourself, discovering how scientists are using sound to understand our relationship with the natural world. You’ll also hear how natural soundscapes are changing as biodiversity declines and consider what this could mean for our wellbeing, future generations and the places we live in.

Royal Horticultural Society staff will share more about their work around gardening and wellbeing, and the event will close with a speaker from the RSPB, offering practical advice on ways we can all help care for birds and support them in our own gardens and communities.

Whether you’re a keen gardener, bird lover, nature enthusiast or simply curious about why spending time in nature can make us feel better, this accessible event offers a thought-provoking new way to experience the natural world.

Thanks to the generous support of RHS Wisley, everyone registering for this event will receive FREE entry for the day. Places for the talk are limited, so early booking is recommended.

You are also welcome to attend the RHS John Macleod Annual Lecture, taking place at Wisley on the same day. If you would like to attend the lecture, please email science@rhs.org.uk by 9th October. Full details are available on the RHS website.

You can also discover more about Melissa’s research in the BBC Ideas film, Why listening to birdsong is good for you.

This event is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science - Please review the University of Surrey's Privacy Notice regarding events here.

View all our University of Surrey FREE public engagement events on our box office here: Buy tickets – University of Surrey

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