Hear, Here! Tune in to nature with new public artwork

Designed to celebrate the birdlife of the woodland, Hear, Here! in Hazeley Wood invites visitors to pause, listen and connect with the natural world. 

The installation, created by Public Art Matters building on the original concept of Dallas-Pierce-Quintero, features a trio of colourful sound‑gathering cones aimed toward the tree canopy. These sculptural cones amplify and intensify birdsong, encouraging people of all ages to tune in and discover how many species they can hear. 

Standing nearby is a unique bird‑identification pole - an imaginative tool to help visitors recognise the sounds around them. Circular disks display bird silhouettes alongside phonetic spellings of their calls. These were created in collaboration with local children from Whitehouse Primary School, who worked with the artist to illustrate and sound-out the birdsong. At the very top of the pole sits a bird box, offering a home for nesting or wintering birds. 

The artist behind Hear, Here! Juliet Quintero says “This piece is designed to encourage us to take a moment to stop and engage with our environment, to recognise the many living creatures that co‑exist with us.” 

Crafted from robust, sound‑reflective steel, the cones are engineered to capture and direct the delicate details of woodland bird calls. Their colours have been carefully chosen to mirror the changing seasonal tones of the surrounding leaves. 

Julie Dawes, Events & Community Engagement Manager at The Parks Trust says “In a busy world, Hear, Here! invites us to stand still for a moment and let the woodland speak. It’s a wonderful celebration of the birds and habitats we care for. It brings art, nature and community together in a really engaging way, and we’re especially proud of the local children who helped shape the bird‑identification pole.” 

A partnership of The Parks Trust and Milton Keynes City Council commissioned the artwork via Section 106 public art funds linked to local housing development, bringing long‑term cultural and environmental value to the community.  

Cabinet Member for Planning and Placemaking at Milton Keynes City Council, Cllr Shanika Mahendran said: “By bringing together developer contributions, we’re able to invest in public art that delivers lasting value for our communities. Hear, Here! puts those funds to good use by creating a simple, striking way for people to stop, listen and enjoy the wildlife around them. The bold sound cones and the bird spotting pole make it easy for everyone to connect with nature.” 

Find out about the artwork and its location.